Help identify No4 Mk 1's

[gerardjohnson]

1st rifle-
On the receiver:
No.4 Mk 1 F(FTR) 47
No.4 Mk 1
BZ144--

On the butt socket:
ENGLAND
BZ
1944
144--

..................................
2nd rifle-
Receiver:
No.4 Mk 1/2 (F)FTR-
/53 BOl22-- (it looks more like a vertical line rather than a number 1 between the BO and 22--)

on the butt stock:
BO
MY1944
22--


Does any of this info tell you where they were made?

 

[louthepou]

Hi Gerry,

I suspect the first one was made at the BSA factory (from the "B" on the butt socket), and the second one at the Maltby factory (from the "M'), both in the UK.

 

[smellie]

The FTR markings tell you that both rifles were Factory Thorough Repaired (totally rebuilt to "new") at Fazakerley Royal Ordnance Factory, and the dates.

Mark 1/2 is a Factory conversion of a Mark 1 rifle to Mark 2 status: trigger block brazed to the Body and the Trigger hung from the block, Mark 2 Forestock installed.

The conversion of the Mark 1* rifle to Mark 2 status was called Mark 1/3.

The "ENGLAND" marking was put there when the rifles were surplused, several years later.

Hope this helps.

 

[Cdn303]

They are both Maltby's. First numerical digit in the serial is a 1 denoting Maltby.