No. 4 MK. I (T)
The rifle was made by Birmingham Small Arms Company factory at Shirley in England (BSA Shirley for short) "M47C" was their late wartime code. Earlier they had used "B" and then "M47" and finally "M47C" as BSA built more factories.
Made in 1945
Serial number U33576 (this was one of the last examples made.) Serial numbers went up into the X series. The first number being "3" tells us as well that it was made by BSA.
It has the "TR" stamp on the left side of the socket which means that it was selected for conversion to telescopically equipped rifle.
There should be an "S" stamped on the right side on small flat area below bolt head to indicate that the iron sights were checked before it was sent for conversion to sniper equipment.
The "T" stamp is there on the left side of the flat sidewall to indicate that the conversion to sniper equipment had been completed.
The "S51" stamp on the underside of the butt indicates that the conversion was done by Holland and Holland in London, England. This was their wartime code.
The backsight is a standard Mark I modified (i.e. battle sight removed so as to clear the scope) and is marked with an "F" on the left side so it appears to have been made at another factory, Fazakerley, probably post-WWII.
The scope serial number should be stamped into the topside of the wrist of the butt, just under or aft of the cocking piece. It should be 23339. WHAT NUMBER IS STAMPED ON THE WRIST?
The rifle serial number, often less the letter prefix, is often stamped on the underside of the forearm and on the British sniper rifles is usually lengthwise along the grain. IS 33576 or U33576 STAMPED ON THE FOREARM AND IF SO IS THE LETTER PRESENT AND IS THE NUMBER LENGTHWAYS OR CROSS-GRAIN?
The magazines were sometimes (later years post-war) numbered to the rifles. IS THERE A NUMBER ON THE BOTTOM OF THE MAGAZINE,? If YES, WHAT IS IT? If there is a serial number on the bottom of the magazine and if it is mismatched, just get another British made No. 4 magazine without a number.
The bracket appears to have been made by Dalglish in Scotland. Theirs was slab-sided as compared to Rose Brothers or Long Branch. There is likely an "N92" stamp behind the front knob. This was Dalgish's wartime code.
The rifle serial number was usually stamped into the bracket (especially later in service) to ensure that they remained matched. WHAT IS THE SERIAL NUMBER STAMPED ON YOURS? IS IT U33576?
The scope is a No. 32 Mk. III made by AK&S in 1945.
It appears to be serial number 23339.
The painted red "W" is for waterproofing. There may also be a painted blue "B" for bloomed lenses (better light gathering) on the other side.
There should be sequential numbers/letters or number +letters on the right side of the bracket to ensure that the clamps are always fitted the same way. e.g.
A123 A124
A123 A124
The 1941 scope case you mentioned will be a No. 8 MK. I and with round corners in all likelihood. It would usually have the rifle serial number stencilled on the lid on the right side. Inside the lid would usually be a paper label glued in with the rifle and scope serial numbers typed on. These cases were shifted from rifle to rifle at times and renumbered as needed. DOES YOURS HAVE ANY NUMBERS ON IT? IF SO WHAT ARE THEY?
The transit chest is a No. 15 MK. I. The old military markings are painted over. They often had a metal tin holder on one end and a piece of paper inserted with the rifle serial number written on it. Chests could be switched to other rifles by simply changing the paper.
The chest appears to be a British made one with folded, not sewn leather carrying handles and it would have three screws for each top hinge.
You are very fortunate that the set is matching. The value is over $5,000 in 2017. I bought my first on in about 1971 for $75. Brand new 1945 mint, and complete in the chest.
Best to use modern commercial or hand-loaded .303" ammunition in this valuable rifle. Wartime surplus ammo is corrosive and one had to use hot water after firing to help neutralize residual corrosive chemicals.
I do extensive research on the No. 4 (T) rifle equipment and my special focus in collecting and research is on the Canadian made sniping gear made at Small Arms Limited (CAL) and later Canadian Arsenals Limited (CA or CAL) at Long Branch (two words) and Research Enterprises Limited (REL) in Toronto and Lyman in the USA.
WOW, that is a tonne of information, thank you very much.
To elaborate on some of your comments:
There is an S stamped on the bolt-side up near the breach, opposite the front scope mount.
The number stamped on the wrist is 23339, which matches the scope and the tag inside the scope box.
It's marked as U33576 on the bottom of the magazine, the band above the trigger, the back of the bolt handle and on the side of the receiver (this one is faint), as well as in the scope tin and on the scope itself. It's marked 33576 on the underside of the forearm. There are also what appears to be N.79. over the broadarrow on the mid band and S126 on the front band. The nosecap is stamped MB13.
There is no number stamped on the bracket except for U33576 above the back knob, and on the other side on the clamps (which read 107K on the back clamp and 108K on the front clamp (same top and bottom). There is no blue B on the scope.
There are fragments of stamping and painted numbers on the top of the scope can, but they don’t appear to match anything on the rifle.
The labels on the transit case (which has the three screws and folded, not sewn handles) are a shipping label from the Canadian National Express Company saying it was shipped by the Sportsmans Shop on King St E in Toronto, and a tin tag with:
DEPOT BIC U33576
METHOD 1C/3
DATE OF PACKING 3/60/
PACKERS NAME ES
There's no evidence of painted labels on it, but I suspect it's been repainted. Also no evidence of a tin holder, but the case has been screwed shut at one point, and looks as though it's been through a war.
Thank you so much for the info!
