Group of enfields

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gunsaholic

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Came into possession of these last night from an elderly gent who wanted them out of the house. I am not at all familiar with military rifles so don't know much about them. I know the first rifle is a 1917 Lithgow with all matching numbers. The sword style bayonet and sheath is with it but is hanging on the fellow's wall so I will be getting it later. I have no clue what all the markings on the stock mean. The second rifle is a MK4. I also have the "poker" style bayonet and sheath for it. The number on the bolt doesn't match. I need to find the rear sling swivel for it. Is there an outlet for these kind of parts?
Last rifle is a MK4 sporter. I also got a army ammo box with 303 ammunition.



MK4


MK4 Sporter

 
I would say that you did very well! How come this doesn't happen to me :)

Check the bores, and if they are all nice, you have about a 1000$ worth of guns.

The missing sling swivel is an easy part to find. I bet some of us here in the milsurp section must have a spare lying around somewere...

Lou
 
louthepou said:
I would say that you did very well! How come this doesn't happen to me :)

Check the bores, and if they are all nice, you have about a 1000$ worth of guns.

The missing sling swivel is an easy part to find. I bet some of us here in the milsurp section must have a spare lying around somewere...

Lou
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I would agree perhaps a bit more then $1000 worth of guns, some ball park numbers. No1 $500, No4 $400, sporter $150, and the sword bayonet will be another +$100

Nice find and very nice markings on the lithgow but stock.


I also noticed that both No4 rifles are No 4 Mk1 and not Mk1* and the full wood has the grooved top handguard. Can you look at the makers marks on the butt socket, I suspect that they are M47C but if thats an early LongBranch its a bonus.
 
Nice Lithgow! Looks to be the original butt with the kangaroo crest, similar to my 1916. 4MD means it was issued to the 4th Military District, the number next to it is their 'inventory' number of sorts. There should be matching markings on the receiver near the barrel. HV means the sight was redone to accomodate high velocity ammo, should be a stamp behind the rear sight on the barrel as well. The arrows with the S between are 'sold out of service', not sure if the adjacent numbers would be the out of service date or a factory refurbishment date.

Does it have the remains of the volley sight on the other side of the fore end as well? That'd be a metal disk with numbers up to 2800 on it. If so, you have a very original fore end as well. And if by some luck the bayonet turns out matching as well you have a real gem on your hands.
And a nice hunting rifle to boot! Some guys have all the luck! :)
*and I missed the full wood No4 the first time through! Starting to have a friendly hatred here...:)
 
Nice old Lithgow,

The markings starting from the butt forward are- date between arrow is date sold out of service - Oct 1934, the next date 10/18 is when it was first issued, Kangaroo stamp is just Australian ID for rifle, CMF over 4MD is saying that this rifle was issued to the Citizens Military Force (like the Army Reserve) in the 4th Military District - South Australia, HV below that is as above for Hi Velocity ammo sights and the last should be the rifles Military ID/serial Number.

Also when Australian Military rebuilt their weapons they always stamped them FTR (Factory Thorough Repair) and the date done.

BTW, the serial number close to the wrist is correct for a 1914-1918 Lithgow made rifle.
 
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Woodchopper--at the risk of appearing stupid, what do you mean by butt socket? I looked all over and can't find a number M47C unless I just can't read it. I flipped the little brass door up in the buttplate to look in there. Can't read anything on the stock bolt.

Kennymo--I don't see any signs where that volley sight metal disc would have been mounted on the 1917. (pic below). The forend wood does have a number stamped in it and it matches the rest of the gun. I see a number 4MD stamped ahead of the breech.

 
woodchopper said:
looking for the markings between the safety and the trigger, left rear of the receiver.

oh and that is a fantastic lithgow No1 MkIII*
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It is marked S15396.

The bores aren't bad. The Lithgow is actually a bit better. However, once I get a proper bore brush , the No 4 will clean up quite a bit more.
 
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The sported #4 may be a commercial make. Possibly a Parker Hale. That would bump it up about 30% higher in value to a common sported modle. Check all the markings
 
enefgee said:
The "Army ammo box with 303" is it wooden, by chance? is it full????? What are the headstamps???? A full box of the right surplus is worth more than any 1 of the rifles.
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I haven't seen the box or ammo yet. Just as I was leaving he remembered the ammo. It was out in his garage and he didn't want to get dressed up and go out there last night. I will pick it up this week and then I'll post on it.
 
points said:
The sported #4 may be a commercial make. Possibly a Parker Hale. That would bump it up about 30% higher in value to a common sported modle. Check all the markings
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I don't see much for markings. I can find the serial number and on the butt plug it says 1944 which I assume is a date. On the forward part of the breech it just says England. Above that there is a little crown with what might be a C or half circle with a letter but I can't make it out. It could be a maker's mark. The proof marks are in front of that on the barrel.
 
The serial number of the No4 should be found like in the picture. The same as for the sporter.

325318d1332960605t-maltby-no4-enfield-no2-012.jpg


I've seen it done two ways. Judging by the bolt release they are both British made rifles. So,

Date over letter part of serial, over number part of serial; or date over serial IE

1944
AA
12345

1944
AA12345

It might also be a good idea to let the pressure of the mainspring of the bolt. Make sure it is unloaded! Grasp the cocking handle (the knurled part of the back of the bolt) and holding on tight pull the trigger and slowly let the cocking piece fall.
 
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sulisa said:
That's a great little collection. Don't be in a huge hurry to part with them...
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No, these guns will be going nowhere for some time. I told the old gent I received them from that I would hang onto these rifles. Plus I am quite intriqued with them.
Below are a couple of pics of the marks on the sporter. On the left side the letters are B YR1944 and below that the serial number of 19962. I also showed the marking on the breech.

 
Ok, that one was originally manufactured by Maltby. The markings on the breach or standard markings applied when the rifle was sold a surplus into the civilian market.
 
gunsaholic said:
I don't see much for markings. I can find the serial number and on the butt plug it says 1944 which I assume is a date. On the forward part of the breech it just says England. Above that there is a little crown with what might be a C or half circle with a letter but I can't make it out. It could be a maker's mark. The proof marks are in front of that on the barrel.
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Look at it again and think about whether that letter could be an arrow. The Broad Arrow is a centuries old British ordnance acceptance/property mark, and in the WWII era there was a Canadian version that put the Broad Arrow inside a letter C. In that case, it would indicate the rifle was used in Canadian service. Most No.4 rifles used by Canadian units were probably Canadian made (at Long Branch Arsenal) but once they were over there a unit could have been supplied with additional or replacement No.4s from British supplies of British or American (Savage) made rifles.
 
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