Question on marking on No.4 Mk1 GL wire wrapped rifle

[breakeyp]

I am familiar with A suffixes on the serial number to indicate non standard part or fitting done to the rifle. I have never seen the markings on this rifle where a superscript A was added to the year date. Comments??

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[Peter Laidler]

Not the answer you want, but I've never sen a bound No4 rifle Paul. We had No1 EY rifles in the UK Military war reserve stockpiles until the early 70's but not No4's. We were always told/taught that binding was not necessary because the strength in the large diameter barrel negated the need for the reinforcing, especially at the muzzle end where the huge build-up of pressure* in the relatively thin walls of the No1 barrel were at their weakest and p[rone to bulge - and then burst!

*the huge build-up of pressure was caused of course because the propellant gas was still building up at that area while the grenade was slowly (relatively speaking of course) accelerating its way out of the cup. The binding was also a left-over from the old rodded grenade where the binding covered the area where the rod part was in the weaker part of the barrel. Rodded grenades would always bulge barrels

[Sunray]

I think the RCN and maybe the RN used No. 4 Rifle as line throwing guns. Dunno if they wrapped 'em or not. Anybody can put a grenade launcher on one and take a picture. Don't think any Service would bother altering a S/N for that purpose though.

[breakeyp]

Thank you all for the input. That was the way it came. Certainly the launcher could be added by anyone. The rifle has no naval markings such as the N or "Line Thrower." Certainly the wrapping was not done at the kitchen table. I still want to know the meaning of the "A."

[Alan de Enfield]

Could it be simply that there was no room at the end of the serial number so they had to put it 'above' ?
Had they put it on the 'line above' the serial number prefix could then have been read as "ABA"

So they added it on the next line above (after the date)

Sometimes the simplest answers at the correct ones.
"When everything else has been discounted, what remains must be correct" (Sherlock Holmes)

[breakeyp]

Thank you Alan. I considered that but thought I would ask if someone else had a better answer.

[Bear43]

I certainly don't have an answer for you but I do have a request if you would indulge me. I would love to see a picture of the inspection markings on the left front of the body. Being a Maltby rifle there are circular inspection stamps there. If you remove the trigger guard there will also be a combination of letters and/or numbers stamped on the bottom of the wrist. I research Maltby rifles and am interested in the markings that are unique to that manufacturer.

[breakeyp]

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best I can get.

I certainly don't have an answer for you but I do have a request if you would indulge me. I would love to see a picture of the inspection markings on the left front of the body. Being a Maltby rifle there are circular inspection stamps there. If you remove the trigger guard there will also be a combination of letters and/or numbers stamped on the bottom of the wrist. I research Maltby rifles and am interested in the markings that are unique to that manufacturer.

[mmppres]

would like to see more pictures as that is one rifle i never saw with wrapping