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Thread: What's the earliest LB No.4 Mk1* you've seen?

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    Legacy Member Roy W's Avatar
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    What's the earliest LB No.4 Mk1* you've seen?

    I have just reserved LB Mk1* serial number 1L5110, which I figure must be quite a low number for the Mk1*.

    What's the lowest number anyone has or has seen?
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    Advisory Panel Lee Enfield's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Roy W View Post
    I have just reserved LB Mk1* serial number 1L5110, which I figure must be quite a low number for the Mk1*.

    What's the lowest number anyone has or has seen?
    Your rifle is serial number 15,110.

    I believe 0L5 (serial no. 5) sold recently at auction
    Last edited by Lee Enfield; 04-28-2021 at 10:28 AM. Reason: correction

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    Legacy Member Roy W's Avatar
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    Thanks. I was aware of what number mine is, I was specifically asking about the earliest Mk1* not the Mk1's.

    Cheers

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    Advisory Panel Lee Enfield's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Roy W View Post
    Thanks. I was aware of what number mine is, I was specifically asking about the earliest Mk1* not the Mk1's.

    Cheers
    You've got to be near the cross over - is the receiver date 1941 or 1942?

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    Legacy Member Roy W's Avatar
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    It's 1942 marked receiver, mk 2 rear sight, square cocking piece.

    It's all parkerised, so suggesting a refurb

    I realise it is near the changeover, I was just wondering what the lowest number Mk1* was that anyone has or has seen.

    Thanks

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    Legacy Member Charlie's Avatar
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    I have 1L2158. 1941. All correct and matching with South African property marks.

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    Legacy Member Roy W's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Charlie View Post
    I have 1L2158. 1941. All correct and matching with South African property marks.
    Is that a Mk1*?

    If not, it isn't what I am asking
    Roy

    ---------- Post added at 09:28 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:27 AM ----------

    Maybe I worded this wrong, but I am asking about Mk1* rifles not Mk1's

    thanks

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    Advisory Panel Lee Enfield's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Roy W View Post
    Is that a Mk1*?

    If not, it isn't what I am asking
    Roy

    ---------- Post added at 09:28 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:27 AM ----------

    Maybe I worded this wrong, but I am asking about Mk1* rifles not Mk1's

    thanks
    I trolled thru the stickied LB serial number thread:
    highest 1941 MkI:
    1L3851
    1L4798
    1L6926

    Lowest 1942 MkI*:
    1L4072
    1L5979
    1L6797

    so there seems to have been a bit of overlap.
    My understanding is that the serial number was one of the last operations (probably after fitting the bolt).

    BreakeyP posted a LB with both MkI and MkI* bolt releases here a few years ago. As I recall the serial number was mid to late 1942 production.
    Last edited by Lee Enfield; 04-29-2021 at 03:13 PM. Reason: https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=15681
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    Legacy Member Roy W's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Lee Enfield View Post
    I trolled thru the stickied LB serial number thread:
    highest 1941 MkI:
    1L3851
    1L4798
    1L6926

    Lowest 1942 MkI*:
    1L4072
    1L5979
    1L6797

    so there seems to have been a bit of overlap.
    My understanding is that the serial number was one of the last operations (probably after fitting the bolt).

    Paul Breakey posted a LB with both MkI and MkI* bolt releases here a few years ago. As I recall the serial number was mid to late 1942 production.
    Thanks for that, I wonder if those numbers are correct, or people have made the same errors as they did on this thread and referred to 1's as 1*'s and vice versa?

    The 1L6926 does seem very late for a Mk1.

    Likewise the 1L4072 seems low for a 1*

    The search continues, as they say

    cheers

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    Legacy Member 5thBatt's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Roy W View Post
    Thanks for that, I wonder if those numbers are correct, or people have made the same errors as they did on this thread and referred to 1's as 1*'s and vice versa?

    The 1L6926 does seem very late for a Mk1.

    Likewise the 1L4072 seems low for a 1*

    The search continues, as they say

    cheers
    Savage produced over 1 million No4s during WW2. even working 24/7 from the 1st Jan 1941 to 31 Dec 1945 (5 full years) they would have to produce over 3,800 per week, so 1L4072 to 1L 6926 is less than a week of production, they would have used more than a single production line to serialize the rifles & they would have been allocated blocks of serial numbers, the rifle would not have been leaving the end of the line in a numerical order.

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