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Thread: Shine some light on this Heavy barrel No.1 for me.

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  1. #1
    Legacy Member jonh172's Avatar
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    Shine some light on this Heavy barrel No.1 for me.

    Looking for any info on this heavy barreled Enfield.
    Is it common to see a heavy barrel on an Enfield receiver? The barrel is dated 1943.
    The rear sight leaf has WA 43 stamped on the bottom and the bolt does not match.

    Let me know what you guys think.
    Jon

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  3. #2
    Legacy Member nijalninja's Avatar
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    Hey it looks like a genuinely rebarrelled 'H' SMLE. I see plenty with Heavy barrels but they all lack the 'H' stamp on the very front of the butt-stock like this one. I see a big old date stamp or something on the butt-stock which I am guessing is either an FTR or a normal repair, but either it might be when this rifle got this barrel and was changed to a 'H' rifle. Then it looks like someone turned it into a No5 look-alike.

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  5. #3
    Legacy Member jonh172's Avatar
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    Thread Starter
    Thanks Nijal!

    Hopefully it shoots as well as my other I posted with range report!

    Probably get this one out this spring.

  6. #4
    Legacy Member jonh172's Avatar
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    More info:

    Lithgow barrel dated Sept 1944.
    Butt stamped R* over* MA* over* 3/47 which I take it to mean that this rifle was set up at Melbourne Arsenal Mar 1947 under a refurbishment program. H on knoxform. Barrel not serial numbered.
    Rearsight* made MA 43 but never serial numbered. H on wrist top. Britishicon bolt*
    numbered 500, not numbered to rifle BUT the rifle has that greyish Australianicon finish and so does bolt rib and handle.Rifle arsenal greased on parts under wood.

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    Legacy Member Paul S.'s Avatar
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    'MA' is the Lithgowicon Small Arms Factory marking. file:///C:/Users/Owner/AppData/Local/Packages/Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe/TempState/Downloads/fs001_smle_markings%20(3).pdf

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    Legacy Member Bindi2's Avatar
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    There never was a Melbourne Arsenal only Lithgowicon then.
    The stamp is a return to stores 3/47.

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    Contributing Member CINDERS's Avatar
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    So others may learn Australianicon factories and subsequent stampings;

    Factory Marks

    BA Rifle Factory No.2 Bathurst
    CA Cowra Annexe
    DA Dubbo Annexe
    FA Forbes Annexe Lithgow LSAF up to 1926 (on both rifles & bayonets)
    MA LSAF post 1926 (on both rifles & bayonets)
    MAO Rifle Factory No.3 Orange (butt marking)
    OA Rifle Factory No.3 Orange
    PA Parkes Annexe
    PA Portland Annexe
    SLAZ Slazenger Annexe (supplied wood furniture from 1941)
    WA Wellington Annexe

    Other Marks

    FTR/xx (year) Factory Thorough Repair
    HV Sighted for high velocity ammunition (stamped on butt)
    MA xx (year) Rebuild at LSAF
    L Long butt (stamped at heel of butt)
    S Short butt (stamped at heel of butt)
    UNSERVICEABLE Condemned
    US Condemned
    DP Drill purpose
    EY Emergency use only (rifles often used for grenade launchers)
    H Heavy barrel (stamped on barrel knox form & butt at socket)
    R Replacement barrel (stamped on barrel knox form)
    I S over A Inspectorate of Small Arms
    Opposed Rs Condemned
    >< Sale or disposal to public, weapon not guaranteed serviceable
    >S< Sale or disposal to public, weapon serviceable
    * Slight pitting in rifling (stamped on barrel knox form)
    ** Moderate pitting in rifling (stamped on barrel knox form)
    *** Bad pitting in rifling (stamped on barrel knox form)

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  11. #8
    Legacy Member Maxwell Smart's Avatar
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    Maribyrnong Ordnance Factory in Melbourne produced artillery pieces and shells, similar to an engineering ROF in the UKicon. I have been told this was referred to by some locals, particularly in relation to tram routes, as "the Arsenal". Code letters MO?.

  12. #9
    Legacy Member jonh172's Avatar
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    Thanks Cinders!

    Bottom of sight leaf has WA 43 = "WA Wellington Annexe" and 43 is when the leaf was made?
    Stock has MA 3/'47 = "MA xx (year) Rebuild at LSAF"
    So this one was rebuilt at LSAF in March '47.

    Would this barrel have been installed then? Or is the '44 on the barrel the install date?

    Is it common to have a mismatch bolt during a rebuild?
    Last edited by jonh172; 12-31-2018 at 10:34 AM.

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