Long branch question, pic up in post 4

icehunter121

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Looking at a Long branch NO4 MK 1 * (star)

Left side of receiver has a ( R?) behind the NO4 MK1 * stamping. The ? may be a T them a bracket so (RT) may be what it is. Does this look correct?

The right hand side of the receiver is stamped ENGLAND. Now is this where the rifle was sent? Or repaired there?

Now over top of the 1944 is stamped..../56 P8? C7C3 So I am taking its repaired in 1956, and issued a new serial number?

Now I don't have a pic of the left side receiver wrist or rear of bolt to check serial numbers. Can any one make sense of what I have just posted? The rifle is 2 hours from me and I have to try and contact the fella about it. The ENGLAND on the receiver baffles me mostly!
 
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Something like this?

pix349505952.jpg
 
A photo would do wonders.

ENGLAND is a surefire sign that the rifle was imported to the US at some point in her life - where they like to put an import mark showing the "country of origin". Obviously it's a bit rude to say a Long Branch was made in England, but I digress.
 
Hello Icehunter. Almost all 303 Enfield service rifles exported from England after WW2 have ENGLAND stamped on the right side of the receiver just above the wood line. With that are the British nitro proofs. English requirements for sale and export. Fairly common for the No 4 Mk 1/2, 1/3, and Mark II rifles to have same marks. It appears to me that your electropencilled marks indicate FTR (Factory Thorough Repair) at Fazakerly (F) and the refurbished rifle was reserialled with a Brit serial in 1956. It probably now has a Mk 2 trigger system and stock so its a No.4 Mk I/3. Its just that the mark has been rubbed mostly off (intentional?). Fazakerly did a fine job of refurbishing rifles to new condition. I have yet to see a 1947 No 5 (JCarbine) without the ENGLAND stamp. These other gents are thinking of small marks indicating importation
into the USA as required by the U.S. gov't for non-U.S. firearms. JOHN
 
Hello Icehunter. Almost all 303 Enfield service rifles exported from England after WW2 have ENGLAND stamped on the right side of the receiver just above the wood line. With that are the British nitro proofs. English requirements for sale and export. Fairly common for the No 4 Mk 1/2, 1/3, and Mark II rifles to have same marks. It appears to me that your electropencilled marks indicate FTR (Factory Thorough Repair) at Fazakerly (F) and the refurbished rifle was reserialled with a Brit serial in 1956. It probably now has a Mk 2 trigger system and stock so its a No.4 Mk I/3. Its just that the mark has been rubbed mostly off (intentional?). Fazakerly did a fine job of refurbishing rifles to new condition. I have yet to see a 1947 No 5 (JCarbine) without the ENGLAND stamp. These other gents are thinking of small marks indicating importation
into the USA as required by the U.S. gov't for non-U.S. firearms. JOHN

That would make sense. I blew the pic up as much as I could without pixilating it to much and it sure could be a (F) To me it looked like something more behind it. Redone at Fazakerly and then exported back here. That would answer some questions as well as the ENGLAND stamping.
 
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