enfield info

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I have inherited a lee-enfield and i am just looking for info on it
From what i have gathered so far it was manufactured in the US by savage as its serial number starts with 78C###X
but the thing that gets me is there is a "B" stamped underneath it
anybody know what this means
Thanks
 
/ B / is actually superimposed / L B / for Long Branch. The two companies shared subcontractors, inventories and technical assistance. Canadian parts on a US gun are nothing to run around the house, flailing your hands in the air about.
 
"...two companies shared..." When the Savage contract ended, all remaining rifles, parts, tooling and machinery was sent to LongBranch and issued to the CF. Had a Savage on my MIU.
 
maple_leaf_eh said:
/ B / is actually superimposed / L B / for Long Branch. The two companies shared subcontractors, inventories and technical assistance. Canadian parts on a US gun are nothing to run around the house, flailing your hands in the air about.
Click to expand...
I'm sorry, but this is incorrect. The 'B' on a Savage has nothing to do with Long Branch.

The story about LB and Savage sharing parts and suppliers is just that, a story. The basis is that at the end of Savage production, remaining parts were supposedly shipped to LB. This can be supported by the fact that LB snipers dated 1944-45 often have Savage manufactured no1/1 rear sights. Of course a Block of BSA snipers also exhibits Savage manufactured sights c.1944....
 
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I have that same "B" on mine.
Wondered if it was a BSA inspection stamp of some sort.
leftwrist.jpg
 
Timberlord said:
I have that same "B" on mine.
Wondered if it was a BSA inspection stamp of some sort.
leftwrist.jpg
Click to expand...

Savages have a "B" and a "Flaming Bomb", both are inspection stamps. The "Flaming Bomb" is well known as a US military inspection marking, the "B" may be as simple as the resident "B"ritish inspector.

Similarly most .455 Colt New Services manufactured during WWI have an "E" marking under the grips. The predominant theory seems to be that this was to show that these frames were being built for the "E"nglish contract or in "E"ley calibre. Being as many of these guns were shipped to fulfil Canadian Government and commercial orders, it probably refers to the cartridge....

Just an example of another unexplained inspection or fitting mark...
 
Lee Enfield said:
I'm sorry, but this is incorrect. The 'B' on a Savage has nothing to do with Long Branch.

The story about LB and Savage sharing parts and suppliers is just that, a story. The basis is that at the end of Savage production, remaining parts were supposedly shipped to LB. This can be supported by the fact that LB snipers dated 1944-45 often have Savage manufactured no1/1 rear sights. Of course a Block of BSA snipers also exhibits Savage manufactured sights c.1944....
Click to expand...

I've seen quite a few Savages with Long Branch wood and bands. It's a bit more than a story.

Also, many LB magazines have an S on the follower, which is quite correct. A big influx of leftover Savage parts did come in to Long Branch, so I've heard.
 
Enfield Markings

Try having a look at Ian Skennerton's book, "The Lee-Enfield Story." It has alot of information on Marker Marks, Inspection Karks, Proof Marks, Ownership Marks, etc.

This book has helped me on this subject matter for my BSA-Shirley No.4Mk1 rifle.

I got a copy of it out on loan from the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa through my local library.

Check it out. It very much woth the look and the read.

I'm still not sure where you "B" stamp marking is on your rifle. Is it directly under the serial number?

In some cases, depending where this "B" stamping is found on the rifle, it will also indicate the the rifle's parts are interchangeable with other Lee-Enfield rifle of similar make and made of the same standard.

For example, my Savage made No.4Mk1 magazine has this very same stamp (a capital "B" below the Savage-Stevens Marker's Mark-a square capital "S" surrounded by a square box). This indicates that the magazine is intercahangeable with other No.4Mk1 rifles made to the same manufacturing standard.

Some early production No.4Mk1 Trial Rifles and No.1MkVI Trial rifles are not marked as such. In this case they have an "A" stamping on their parts indicating that they are not interchangeable between other rifles. A good indication of these rifles will have either an "A" suffix or an "A" prefix in the rifle's serial number. This is documented in Ian Skennerton's book that I mentioned earlier.

Ian Skennerton also has another book out that deals with this subject matter. I have yet to get my hands on a copy of it to confirm this. The tittle of it escapes me for the moment so I can't help you there either. Maybe someone else here in this forum can help you out with that.

I hope this helps you out somewhat. At least it should point you in the right direction on where to look for your answer to your question.

Best of luck to you. The fun is also in the search for answers.

Welcome to the Enfield Club.

Rgs...kajn65
 
I've seen the "B" stamp on the butt socket of all of the Savages that I've owned, incl my current one. I'm sure it has no relationship to Long Branch. FWIW I have 2 spare Savage safties which have a C/broad arrow electro-pencilled on the inner surface. This supports the idea of Savage parts transfer to LB. I have seen a Savage trigger guard and front sight protector on LB rifles, but these could well have been swapped in service.
 
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