I was wondering if anyone knows who made wood for the British No.4 Mk.1 in 1942. My 1942 Shirley has what I believe to be the original stock, wood patina matches perfectly from piece to piece. I believe it to be English walnut as it is dark brown. Both the butt stock and fore stock have an S stamped into them but it isn't the Savage type S, it just looks like a normal S. The handgaurds are both stamped on their interiors with JC for John Curtis. I am wondering who could have made the butt and forestock
No.4 Mk.1 furniture makers
- Thread starter MattE93
- Start date
Winchester-1897
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Newmarket,Ontario
……………………….
Winchester-1897
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Newmarket,Ontario
…………………………………(MARKED FOR INTEREST) Not trying to piss you off, just interested in what some replies will be to answer your questions.
maple_leaf_eh
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
The one company I know off the top of my head was Slazenger, who are well known for their tennis rackets. There is a code to the markings applied to firearms parts to supposed deceive the Germans into not bombing well known factories. The parts have a letter and two digits code. The letter was which part of the country and the numbers the plant. But --- the beauty of the No.4 was how few parts were made by the assembly plant. Almost everything was subcontracted.
Ah fair enough! Thought you were implying Shirley, then I felt really dumb, the remembered they used the B stamp. This one has lots of singer parts (rear sight, front sight guard (SMC), wood metal caps (N67), and few others) lots of subcontractor parts for sure. I went to a page indicating marks and factories but there are none with just S except for savage but this is defintely not just a savage S
Front forestock and butt appear to have SL, might fit the slazenger narrative. Looks like slazenger bought the William Sykes factory in 42 due to theirs being destroyed. I am convinced this is slazenger furniture now, fits the SL stamp and the period. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction guys
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That's the dispersal code system - used for the reasons you mentioned. Three possible letters were assigned, based on location within the UK - N - North, M - Middle, S - South. Then up to three numbers and occasionally a letter thrown in as the factory designator.
Winchester-1897
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Newmarket,Ontario
Ah fair enough! Thought you were implying Shirley, then I felt really dumb, the remembered they used the B stamp. This one has lots of singer parts (rear sight, front sight guard (SMC), wood metal caps (N67), and few others) lots of subcontractor parts for sure. I went to a page indicating marks and factories but there are none with just S except for savage but this is defintely not just a savage S
Front forestock and butt appear to have SL, might fit the slazenger narrative. Looks like slazenger bought the William Sykes factory in 42 due to theirs being destroyed. I am convinced this is slazenger furniture now, fits the SL stamp and the period. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction guys
Very interesting, thanks for sharing.
