Need help identifying mystery proof/import mark

[mjkberg]

Hi,

I am new to the post and have an Enfield that my dad has had since the late 60's. Its a No4 Mk1* with an import making I can't identify. The rifle was make in 1942 and is Serial # 17C9278. Its a Savage and says US PROPERTY on the side.

The mark appears on the front of the receiver. Also on the bolt handle. Its sorta an upside down T with a side ways C going through it. What is its origin? Who stamped it? I can't find it pictured on any websites. Any one have the Enfield bible who could look it up?




Also it came with the sling pictured. Its an Early WW2 Rifle sling, Since this rifle was made in 1942, in the USA. Would it be historically accurate to keep this sling with the rifle? Did we send Enfields overseas with US slings? The numbers on the magazine, stock and receiver all match too. I believe this rifle has been kept together.





Thanks for your help!

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.

[Thunderbox]

As detailed on the other forum, the "Crown over squiggle" is the mark of the London Proof House. All firearms in UK have to be proof-tested, particularly military weapons being surplussed to the civilian market. There are two Proof Houses - Birmingham and London - and these have their unique marks. Birmingham is typically indicated by "Crown over BNP" stamp. After the rifle is tested (by firing high-pressure proof rounds), the four "pressure-bearing components" (barrel, receiver, bolt and bolthead) are stamped with the proof mark. If the rifle doesn't already have it, the CIP designation for the calibre is also added to the barrel - this is the cluster of pressure and chamber length data.

The sling is a later Garand item, so not original to the rifle - No4s were used with web P'37 webbing. The rifles were just shipped as bare rifles. Savage-made accessories such as bayonets and slings were manufactured and shipped separately, and were issued via different part of the stores system. Since there were about 100 different contractors for ancillaries, the country and factory of origin for slings and bayonets issued with a particular rifle was very random.

[tiriaq]

Crown over squiggle would be crown over intertwined G and P.

[stencollector]

The proof mark is for London (vice Birmingham). A fairly common mark, I have had it on most of my no4Ts.

[mjkberg]

Thank you to all. This is the only Enfield I have and it was given to me by my dad. I was researching it to find out its history. The story is that my dad was in college in Minnesota from 1965-1969 and he traded a radio in exchange for the rifle. Dad said he only paid $15 for the radio.

So if a WWII Enfield sling is appropriate. I will have to find one next.

Thanks again.

[mjkberg]

Just got off the phone with dad and apparently his college room mate traded someone a minibike in for the Enfield Rifle, then dad traded a radio for it when he was in college. Dad said at Iowa state you were allowed to keep long guns in your dorm room but no pistols or ammo. His room mate had a gun cabinet with a sawed off shotgun, an M1 Garand and an M1917 Enfield that was re-chambered for .308 Norma Magnum. He said that M1917 in .308 Norma Mag was brutal to shoot. His room mate would pull black tip .30 cal AP bullets and reload them into .308 Norma. He would shoot concrete bridge abutments and the bullets would go in 3" but a two foot wide sheet of concrete would be blasted off. Good times.

[englishman_ca]

Tsk, tsk. Them college kids and guns