Need help with a No 4 MK2

[J.D.]

Hi Guys,

A good Mate of mine has a No4 MK 2 & let me say it is nothing like my Maltby No 4 so could someone give me some info on it please he has not fired it & said he was told it was unfired & has grease in the barrel when he got it so looking for some help on it please. All numbers match & the timber is a light colour ??
Thanks for your time & help.
Jason

Information

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[Peter Laidler]

IT is a late Fazakerley No4 Mk2 made in 1955. The U= United Kingdom, F= Fazakerley in Liverpool, 55= year of manufacture A= the number indicator followed by the serial number. It is absolutely correct. Tell your mate to grease it up, DON'T fire it, wrap it up in grease paper, seal it and put it away. They ain't makin' no more and it doesn't eat anything as it is. Others will tell you differently

Incidentally, it tells you everything you need to know about Fazakerley. A totally strike bounhd factory plagued with industrial troubles and STILL making No4 rifles in 1955 when the rest of the world - including Britain was making or trying to equip itself with self loaders. The striking Fazakerley workers all went to Australia and called themselves Wharfies........ (last sentence just a joke......)

[mrclark303]

I would agree Peter, if it hasn't been fired (since 55) leave it as is. Shame it isn't still in the wrap with its storage tag.

If it was mine I would keep it lightly oiled and in a gun sock to protect her in her present excellent condition.

Excellent future investment!

[CINDERS]

Not trying to fuel a fire there was a book out about the things our wharfies did during the war in some cases deliberately damaging equipment like valves for radios, dropping aircraft when slung up by the stiff legs and other bad things. I will find a copy and get the details up on the site it is a pretty p*ss poor thing they did to hamper the effort it is a wonder the Govt of the day did not line them up against a wall or better still bung them on a boat and send them to New Guinea

[mrclark303]

Not trying to fuel a fire there was a book out about the things our wharfies did during the war in some cases deliberately damaging equipment like valves for radios, dropping aircraft when slung up by the stiff legs and other bad things. I will find a copy and get the details up on the site it is a pretty p*ss poor thing they did to hamper the effort it is a wonder the Govt of the day did not line them up against a wall or better still bung them on a boat and send them to New Guinea

It's disgraceful when a Country is on a war footing, with young men and women putting their lives on the line to go on strike and disrupt supplies.

My father told me that during the war the Liverpool dock workers threatened industrial action that amounted to bringing the docks to a halt, they apparently saw sense and backed down when it was plainly "pointed out" to them that their reserve occupation status could be signed away with the wave of a fountain pen and the lot of them placed under direct Admiralty control (and subject to full military discipline) very easily!

[J.D.]

Not trying to fuel a fire there was a book out about the things our wharfies did during the war in some cases deliberately damaging equipment like valves for radios, dropping aircraft when slung up by the stiff legs and other bad things. I will find a copy and get the details up on the site it is a pretty p*ss poor thing they did to hamper the effort it is a wonder the Govt of the day did not line them up against a wall or better still bung them on a boat and send them to New Guinea

Yeah I read that book...mongrels

[Peter Laidler]

I remember being in Australia during the Vietnam war when there was some dispute with the wharfies about loading the ammunition onto ships bound for SVn to re-supply. Anyway...... What got me was that the wharfies representatives at various places around the Country all, to a man, had Birmingham, LIverpool or Irish accents. I remember thinking to myself '..........what a xxxxxxg pxxxx-poor reputation we/the poms must have here. Especially with the mums and dads who's sons are waiting for supplies of a parcel for Christmas (The AFPO letter mail all went from Richmond as I recall.....). Sure enough, next morning the diggers were keen to remind the few poms that they'd heard the news.

Anyway, I digress. But next year it's 50 years ago that I went.......... on my 19th birthday

[henry r]

To Australia or did you go to vietnam? (on exchange to the aust or nz army?)

[bigduke6]

There seems to be a few in the UK, ( not wrapped as far as I know, but Mk2's in excellent condition).

[Lee Enfield]

Hi Guys,

A good Mate of mine has a No4 MK 2 & let me say it is nothing like my Maltby No 4 so could someone give me some info on it please he has not fired it & said he was told it was unfired & has grease in the barrel when he got it so looking for some help on it please. All numbers match & the timber is a light colour ??
Thanks for your time & help.
Jason

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...jxntk8sa-1.jpg
Interesting that it has a CCM marked hand guard.

I suppose it was a salvaged iron re-used.