Electro pencil serial 1944 M47C

[pdxbohica]

Not sure if this is the proper forum, if not, please move...

I am looking to purchase a No4 Mk1 T and have found one that is available. However, on the butt socket the serial number is electro-penciled. It is B39xxx. It is also stamped ENGLAND and has the TR and T stamps.

From this I read that it was imported into the US prior to 1968, was originally manufactured at BSA Shirley and was a genuine sniper rifle (the left side of the receiver has the T mark and there is an S on the opposite side as well as the S51 marking on the bottom of the stock).

However, I did not see any other serial number other than the B39xxx which does not correlate to any BSA Shirley standard that I can discover.

Help please... (And thanks in advance)

Information

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[Brian Dick]

It's perfectly normal for a 1944 BSA No.4Mk.1T.

[Ridolpho]

It's perfectly normal for a 1944 BSA No.4Mk.1T.

Brian: There are many BSA's with stamped numbers on the cheek. Does e/pencil indicate a refurbished rifle? Or, were they e/p'd originally and stamped upon overhaul?

Ridolpho

[Brian Dick]

I agree that many are stamped on the butt socket as factory original. There are also 1944 BSA No.4 rifles, (both sniper and service), with the serial number engraved as described above by the OP that are factory original. I'd say the majority of those that went through FTR at some point had the serial number stamped on because the engraving would be lost in the refinishing process.

pdxbohica, can you put up a close up photo of the markings on the left side of the body?

[jmoore]

If it's still "in the white" inside the electro pencil markings, then the rifle likely has seen only the most minor of (or no) reworks. (Most often seen with No.4 Mk.I (T) rifles in good nick.) Extra likely if the scope bracket is un-numbered.

[pdxbohica]

So, do I understand correctly that even though the serial is outside of the normal range that it is correct? Is there a description somewhere of "non-standard" serial numbers for these?

[Peter Laidler]

Stop worrying. That is as original as it gets. Who on earth told you that the number was not '......in the usual range.....?' Tell them to stop talking bolloxxx.....'

[pdxbohica]

Thank you sir. I bought it today.

Not back CONUS until JUN (currently in Iraq), but when I get back I will post with some pictures.

And I was basing the 'non-standard' on the following quote:

This No4 rifle [#R33857] is one of 665,000 manufactured at Birmingham Small Arms’ plant in Shirley. As 1944 serial numbers are in the 30xxx range prefixed by either of the following –A, C, F, H, K, L, M, P, Q, R – this rifle was manufactured very late in the year.

From No4Mk I (T) to L42 AI - All About Enfields

[Roger Payne]

The list of prefixes is incomplete. Also, the first batch bore no letter prefix. Your rifle looks very nice - a great find. Enjoy her.