Strange Enfield Markings

Drachenblut

Drachenblut

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Hello All,

I have a friend who has a Lee-Enfield that he asked me if I wanted to buy... I took some pictures incase I wanted to sell it for him... however there are some straaaange things about this one... it has a plum coloured safety and I believe Korean stamping on the reciever, however it is a Savage 1942 Lee-Enfield that has a normal barrel and a sporter stock (cut wood)... I was thinking of buying and a restoring it if it's worth it... what is this rifle? Ideas on it's history?

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A different coloured safety is probably just a part replaced at some point. Since it has the whole barrel, it could well be worth restoring. But don't throw away that butt stock, it will go nicely on someone's sporter. It certainly wasn't carved from the original military one.

I have nothing to offer on the Korean markings.
 
I would guess it was part of the parts lot Savage sent to Long branch after the war ended, that might explain why it has so many LB marked parts.
 
Dont see too much chinese - how about "No 4 Mk 1 *" on the side of the receiver... BTW - Thats a typical color for the safety band. Oh - and it appears that the bolt doesnt match the receiver. For all the effort needed to restore it, I would think a matching bolt would be a prerequisite.
 
I suspect that the LB parts, mismatched bolt, Fazakerly Mk. I rear sight, and the 1942 dated Savage barrelled receiver were united when the rifle was sported. There is no Korean on that rifle. The rifle is a bitser, and if it is a good shooter, that's great. It could be refitted to issue configuration, but I'm not sure what the point would be.
 
Most of the markings look to be a little washed out which would indicate to me that it has been buffed and refinished at some time. Most likely done in civilian hands when it was sportered, arsenal refinishes tend to be just a chemical dip tank to prep it, no buffing.

It is Savage made but has many Long Branch parts, which is quite usual, most parts in Canadian armourers bins would be Canadian made. Also Long Branch and Savage would augment each other's inventory to keep production going at the two facilities, so even some factory fresh rifles had mixed parts.

The rifle is, as it has been called, 'a bitzer'. Nothing wrong with it, it is what it is, a nice sporter and a damn good deer rifle.

The stars or asterix markings on the receiver rings are an armourer's inspection mark. Not good, it usualy indicates that he found a problem with rust or a cut inside the barrel. The issue might have been fixed by now, but shoot it and take a good look at the spent casing for abnormalites. This might be the reason that the rifle was surplused and sold off to the civilian trade.

As to restoring, hmmm, no. I would play at the range with this one, maybe hunt with it a bit, put a scope on it, then move it along to another hunter as a sporter. There are much better project rifles around to base a restoration on, this one will never be 'collector' material no matter how much money and time you spend on it.

Or leave it as is. Every Lee Enfield collection should have a classic sporter such as this, tis a part of our heritage.
 
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No4Mk1* Lee enfield, Savage make, 1942, made in USA.
Long branch trigger guard,C broad arrow stamped. Note the two peens on the king screw area. Mismatch Savage serialized magazine. Long branch safety lever, safety spring is purple in colour because of high nickel content in the metal at the time of bluing. Receiver looks like it's been refinished, perhaps re-parkerized. Faz rear sight, perhaps time of assembly. Correctly if I'm wrong, I believe the asterix on the front of the receiver means Rust in the barrel? I agree, nice sporter stock, you should save this for good sport rifle. This rifle has good prospects to be restored.
Second magazine shown is that of a No1MkIII* Lee Enfield.

Regards

Pete
 
with all the chopped ones out there I would see how that one shoots and if its a good shooter and the chamber is not overly large and stretching the brass I would look at what I had for wood and restock that one.

Other then that I would just shoot it as is or use it as a parts rifle.
 
woodchopper said:
with all the chopped ones out there I would see how that one shoots and if its a good shooter and the chamber is not overly large and stretching the brass I would look at what I had for wood and restock that one.

Other then that I would just shoot it as is or use it as a parts rifle.
Click to expand...

The thing is, I've seen a number of complete, original Savage Enfields sit on the EE with few enthusiastic takers.(we seem to reserve our enthusiasm for Long Branch rifles)

A restored bitster isn't going to do better...especially one with a mismatched bolt and that star stamped over the chamber. :(

It all comes down to how much money do you want to sink into it? If you have all the needed parts already and not much in em then what the hey...
 
I see what you mean. I think I can make out Mk.

Should be No 4 Mk I*.

Maybe refinishing has polished some of it off?

Have yet to see Korean characters on an Enfield.

The Koreans didn't need em...got to use semi auto American weapons like M1 and M2 Carbines and Garands.
 
... As others have "posted" it's a nice looking Sporter, and the wood is certainly nice ! If you wanted to do anything with it and learn perhaps, why not accept it's a Sporter and simply clean it up ( Check prices first ! ) ? .. . A Commercial Polish and Blue, and enjoy a very useful, and practical Hunting Rifle ! .... David K
 
Why not take the opportunity to do a full blown restoration. I mean re-blue, as well as a new stock. Most people on here will not touch the metal even on a sporter if its still matching. But as people have pointed out its a "bitser". I would take the time, get a nice High Polish blue on it, locate a nice full stock, or make one. Then you will have a "mint" looking rifle you can be shoot and not feel guilty. OR you could get a repro sniper mount and make a Cheap-re-pro No.4 Mk1*(T). The opportunities are their. Not to mention Projects like this are fun,
 
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