Odd No 4MK1 marking

madtrapper143

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Gentlemen, just purchased a decent little sported No4MK1 for rough country deer/moose hunts. It is a very standard Parker Hale type sport job with military forewood sported and original buttstock with brass butt plate. It is marked on the left receiver No4 MK1 (F) which I know is Fazakerly. Then it is marked 9 48 PF (in squared open end box)37,642. I know this gun was made before 1948 but there are no FTR stamps anywhere. It does have BNP proof stamps like other sporters. Just wondering why a No4Mk1 has PF stamps like a post war No4 Mk2.

Darryl
 
No.4Mk.1* were only made at Savage and Long Branch. The British factories only made No.4Mk.1, except ROF(Faz) which was the only one to make the Mk.2, and I read that Mk.2 production didn't start until 1949.
 
Well except that I have a Maltby No4 Mk.1*...BUT is still has the earlier button catch release for the bolt not the LB style cut out. So I would imagine that the Brit "..1*" mark must mean some other change. Or to put it another way; An LB No4 Mk.I* is not the same as a British No.4 Mk.I*.
Maybe Smellie can enlighten us. The only other odd thing about this Maltby is the bolt cocking piece (I forget the proper name) is the smooth sided type with no grooves milled in, which I believe was tried out but all replaced.

Peter (in Burlington, Ont.)

No.4Mk.1* were only made at Savage and Long Branch. The British factories only made No.4Mk.1, except ROF(Faz) which was the only one to make the Mk.2, and I read that Mk.2 production didn't start until 1949.
 
I have one of the Maltby I* rifles as well. There was apparently a batch of them made in 1944. The rifles are bog standard Mk. I. The I* was approved for production in Britain, but they did not do it. I suspect that someone got the wrong die out of the toolroom.
 
^agreed. I have one here but have seen two. The one I have is a '44, but I believe the other one I saw was earlier. I would love to own that rifle now, it was gorgeous.
 
I have one of the Maltby I* rifles as well. There was apparently a batch of them made in 1944. The rifles are bog standard Mk. I. The I* was approved for production in Britain, but they did not do it. I suspect that someone got the wrong die out of the toolroom.

Well, that's an interesting discussion for a night by the fire. Is it the Mk1* design that makes a No.4 a Mk1*, or the Mk1* marking? I wonder how many of those there were, and if anyone got in trouble for it?
 
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