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  1. #1
    Legacy Member masterdiver330's Avatar
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    Enfield ser. no. clarification history

    I was looking in Knowledge Libraryicon and am a little confused.I have a #4 Mk1. I used chalk on the receiver it shows
    #4 MK1 ( f ) F T A
    47 BM 18264 n4 mk1
    Barrel, bolt and receiver are matching numbers.

    on left side stock band
    1944
    BM 18264
    I believe the 1 is for Malby serial numbers.
    What is the ( F ) FTA id for
    What is the BM before represent.

    Any help would be appreciated. I would like to get more history from the rifle
    Information
    Warning: This is a relatively older thread
    This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

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    Legacy Member GeeRam's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by masterdiver330 View Post
    What is the ( F ) FTA id for
    Are you sure its a FTA, and not FTR...?
    Just the thing for putting round holes in square heads.

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    Legacy Member Alan de Enfield's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by masterdiver330 View Post
    Any help would be appreciated. I would like to get more history from the rifle
    I think Gee is correct it is FTR.

    An FTR was a "Factory Thorough Rebuild", a seriously damaged rifle which was beyond the capabilities of the field armourer, or even the Base armourers to repair so was returned to one of the manufacturing plants as they had the equipment and parts (it was generally the action was damaged) to rebuild the rifle.

    The rifle was build by RoF Maltby (Yorkshire), damaged and sent to RoF Fazakerley (Liverpool) for repair. It would then be sent back and into battle.
    There would normally be a date after the 'FTR' marking (something like ?/47 for example) The 47 you see is probaly the date.
    Last edited by Alan de Enfield; 01-24-2021 at 11:17 AM.
    Mine are not the best, but they are not too bad. I can think of lots of Enfields I'd rather have but instead of constantly striving for more, sometimes it's good to be satisfied with what one has...

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    Legacy Member masterdiver330's Avatar
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    I just re chalked it could be an R. There is no number after the FTR . What is the 47 before the serial number represent an the BM I could not find any information in library on them.

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    Legacy Member Alan de Enfield's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by masterdiver330 View Post
    I just re chalked it could be an R. There is no number after the FTR . What is the 47 before the serial number represent an the BM I could not find any information in library on them.

    Can you post pictures - I'd speculate that the 47 is the year of the FTR

    The BM is the prefix to the serial number.

    Matlby factory prefix was "1" as production continued there would be a prefix "A10001", to "A19999 then "B1xxxx" and so on until Z1xxxx, the next series would be "AA1xxxx" and so on until BA1xxx, and getting to BM10001 and eventually your rifle BM18264

    Your rifle was the 8,264th rifle built with the prefix "BM"
    Mine are not the best, but they are not too bad. I can think of lots of Enfields I'd rather have but instead of constantly striving for more, sometimes it's good to be satisfied with what one has...

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    Legacy Member masterdiver330's Avatar
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    I will as soon as possible.
    Thank you

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