Coding Painted On A No.5 MK I, Enfield (carbine)

[geojock]

The coding is painted on the left side of the buttstock arranged vertically, A E 44. What does the coding signify ?

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[browningautorifle]

Rack number probably.

[Sunray]

Sounds like a unit inventory number. Made for easy counting for the NCO's doing it. Same thing as browningautorifle's rack number.

[GeeRam]

I have a similar rack type number on the butt of my No.5, but hard stamped into the stock rather than painted.

[harry mac]

I have a similar rack type number on the butt of my No.5, but hard stamped into the stock rather than painted.

I have the exact same style of stamp in the butt of my No5. I think mine is 5/18.
Is the stamp also repeated on the underside of your bolt handle?
My rifle is a 1944 manufactured Fazackerly.
I doubt very much that they are "rack numbers". A rack number (or "butt number" in British parlance), by it's very nature is a temporary thing. Once you stamp something in, it becomes permanent.

[harry mac]

Geojock. I just noticed your similarly titled other thread. Do you have a No5 Mk1 marked "A E 44? Or do you have a MkV SMLE marked A 3 44? Or do you have both?