Help telling me about this firearm?

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mcmc317

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Hi there, Inherited this Lee Enfield from my grandfather, he passed away and wasn't able to tell me anything really about this gun, I'm curious as to its story if it has one, and what year it was manufactured and where it was made, if it was used in any military etc. Any help telling me about this firearm would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

On the side of the receiver it says " No.4 MK1 - F (FTR) 47,

From doing a little bit of google work i've learned that the F -(FTR) means that the gun went through a Factory Thorough Repair, and the F means it was done at the Fazakerly factory.

The bolt is marked N.67.MK.2 but the receiver says MK1?

The band that goes from the back of the trigger guard up to the receiver looks like it says 1943 ENGLAND with a capital C above and to the right.

From the markings my understanding is that it is a No 4 MK1 that was made in 1943 in England, then tooken to the Fazakerly factory for repairs but Im new to firearms and am still learning so im not exactly sure, so any info and help would be appreciated., I attatched some pictures. thanks :wave:









 
The serial number will tell you the maker. Serial numbers starting with 1 are Maltby, 2 is Fazakerley and 3 is BSA Shirley. Shirley also used M47C.

These serial numbers started with AA so if the serial number on your rifle is the correct one, AU3### would be made by BSA Shirley in 1943.

A letter C in the serial number is Savage, and a letter L is Long Branch.

N67 is the Singer Manufacturing Company in Scotland but does the bolt head say "Mk.II" or only the number 2? Or are you assuming the 2 stands for Mark II?

Bolt heads are numbered to allow the rifle to have correct headspace.

The "England" was stamped on the rifle after it was sold as surplus. Rifles imported into the USA had to have the Country of Manufacture or Country of Origin stamped on them.

There should be markings on the barrel that will give an indication of surplus sale and export. These will be calibre (.303), length of cartridge, (2.22), pressure and proof marks.

Post some good close up pictures of the barrel markings and we should be able to tell you where it was proof tested.
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It's sporterized, but there are 2 pieces of good news.

1, the scope mount is no gunsmithing, so not likely drilled and tapped.

2, the barrel is full length and uncut.

Thus, it's restorable.

However, by the time you buy a wood set, and all of the metal parts, you'll be near the max it's worth anyway.

BTW, take the trigger lock off and uncock the poor thing...(after proving it's safe and unloaded of course)
 
Awesome, thanks guys all of that is great help and good to know & the bolt head says (N.67.MK.2) and as for markings on the barrel, the barrel has been painted black so I cant see any markings, but it is coming off a little, so sometime soon i'll probally take off the old paint and then hopefully there will be some markings on the barrel. So from the markings that are on my gun it is a Lee Enfield No4 MK1 that was most likely made in 1943 at BSA Shirley and then at some point in its life tooken to Fazakerly for repairs? Then imported from England into The United States or Canada?

Makes sence why when I googled No4 MK1 none of the ones that showed up looked like mine, didn't realize there was even such a thing as sporterized. & ahhh not a problem I prefer the sporterized look rather than the original. Out of curiousity roughly what would a gun like mine be worth if it wasnt sporterized?

Thanks again for the help
 
mcmc317 said:
Awesome, thanks guys all of that is great help and good to know & the bolt head says (N.67.MK.2) and as for markings on the barrel, the barrel has been painted black so I cant see any markings, but it is coming off a little, so sometime soon i'll probally take off the old paint and then hopefully there will be some markings on the barrel. So from the markings that are on my gun it is a Lee Enfield No4 MK1 that was most likely made in 1943 at BSA Shirley and then at some point in its life tooken to Fazakerly for repairs? Then imported from England into The United States or Canada?

Makes sence why when I googled No4 MK1 none of the ones that showed up looked like mine, didn't realize there was even such a thing as sporterized. & ahhh not a problem I prefer the sporterized look rather than the original. Out of curiousity roughly what would a gun like mine be worth if it wasnt sporterized?

Thanks again for the help
Click to expand...

Maybe $350-$450 if restored to full military? Not easy to find all of the right parts, although if Marstar starts selling that lot they got in from Greece recently, that may change. Keep an eye on that.

Yes, you have it about right for it's provenance.

The black paint is called Suncorite and was part of the British FTR process. It's often seen in peeling and poor condition but it was a very protective and high quality paint when applied. I thnk the Brits parkerized them first, then applied the Suncorite.
 
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