Need information on Lee Endfield

sniper762

sniper762

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Lethbridge, Alberta
I just bought a Lee Endfield #4 Mark 1T @ the Lethbridge gun show, I do not know very much about it and can not post any pictures @ this time. I will try to upload some soon. The rifle is in very good condition the only markings it has is the serial # and #4 mark 1T on the side of the receiver. On the butt stock on the wood is stamped S.A.L.CO I paid $380 for the rifle. If anyone could give me information on the rifle I would greatly appreciate it.
PS. the year of manufacture was 1942.
 
sniper762 said:
If anyone could give me information on the rifle I would greatly appreciate it. .
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Well, $380 is an incredible price if it's an all correct piece ....

Here's a good place to start ... ;)

Check the 130 picture virtual tour of the 1944 Enfield No.4 Mk1(T) Sniper Rifle (Mfg by BSA Shirley - M47c)http://www.milsurps.com/content.php?r=165-1944-Enfield-No.4-Mk1(T)-Sniper-Rifle displayed in the United Kingdom - Milsurp Knowledge Libraryhttp://www.milsurps.com/content.php?r=120-united-kingdom.

Compare all the markings on your No.4(T) against it. ;)

I've never seen the marking S.A.L.CO on a No.4 Mk1(T) ...

There's also a section in the article on how to spot a fake, plus a lot of other related comments and content ...

Hope that helps ... :)

Regards,
Doug
 
SAL stood for "Small arms limited", located in Long Branch. Contrary to popular belief, SAL was the companies name and Long Branch, Ontario was just the location they were made at. It would be unusual for something to have this stamp on it. I saw it on packaging, but never on the products.

Then agin, I do not recall "Co" on the end of the name either, so this may be another SAL. What other stamps are on the wood?

Pictures are a must. Even for a stripped T, it sounds like you got a good price. There are plenty of repro pads, cheek rests, and even scopes available these days, so it should be restorable.
 
$380 seems to be the standard price for the recent imports. They came from India or Pakistan, and usually have the "Ishapore scre" through the stock, forward of the magazine. The screw detracts from the price a little.

Interesting marking on the butt. First I have ever seen like that.
 
Show a straight on photo of the front half of the rifle. It looks like the barrel was shortened and the wood also cut back. Many of these were done on the civilian market to make a slightly shorter gun which would be easier to move around. They have been referred to as the "tanker carbines", but of course such a gun did not exist.

Some of them had the front portion of the barrel cut off and bored out. The corresponding length of the remaining barrel was turned to the same diameter and the front portion silver soldered or sweated on. The wood was then shortened accordingly.
 
sniper762 said:
james003.jpg
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Yep, it's shortened all right.

You can see where the bayonet lugs are missing, and the front sight has been attached with some form of filler to make up for the missing lugs in that location. Rifle bedding epoxy perhaps?

I feel for you. Pretty tough to go from having a super buy on a sniper, down to having a bubba'd example in the space of a few hours. They are not worthless, so don't go throwing it into the fire quite yet. They sell quite often on the EE for decent prices.

I have the basis of one. Someone took an unfired 1950 CAL (Long Branch) no4mk1 and did the same thing to the barrel. I bought it as a barrelled reciever only for a different project, but it was a shame nonetheless.
 
Plenty on there, and you should be able to find a nice Canadian example if you bide your time. Do a bit of reading up first so you can spot the put togethers as opposed to the proper factory examples. Lots of guys cobbling together sporters to make a few bucks.
 
sniper762 said:
thank you. im going to try to get a good #4 mk 1 from EE .
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Have have a look at the trade ex site (link at top of CGN page) they have some decent British No.4 Mk1's for around 370 a piece and from what hear, they are really decent rifles.

As for your "tanker", you have to look at the bright side of these kind of things, ya you have a bubba'd rifle, but you also have the potential for a sweet project. I was thinking of doing a "sniper carbine" by getting a tanker and some repro mounts. You could probably do the same if you get the repro mounts and pads. Would make a pretty sweet bush gun.
 
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