Puzzler No.4 Mk1

[kjohn]

I pulled another No.4 out of the pile and can't pin down the manufacturer. Serial number is F6377, with a "B" above it and 1942 in between. LB marked front band and "S126" middle band. Top front handguard retainer is Savage, bottom doesn't appear to have marking. Front and rear sling loops are Savage. Bolt is also F6377 with an "M" on the underside of the handle. Mk3 rear sight, front sight marked "ROFB" on one side of the post and what looks like "+-03" on the other. The metal is flat black and looks to be relatively new, compared to the stock.

Where the manufacturer info might have been stamped, looks like it has been ground off.

Pics to come of the markings, as soon as I get the resized, etc.

The second pic is what's left on the ground off part.

Thank you for any help!

 

[points]

4 digit #. BSA Shirley.

 

[kjohn]

Yeah. It didn't fit the info given here:
Hardly qualify as a "late Shirley". Maybe renumbered after a repair or new receiver. EDIT Likely early Shirley.
No.4 and No.5 rifle serial numbers can readily identify manufacturers. British No.4 rifles have five numbers, usually after one or two letter prefixes. The same letter prefix(es) were used by Maltby, Fazakerley & BSA Shirley, A to Z then AA, AB to AZ, then BA to BZ, CA to CZ &c. Maltby rifle serial numbers commence with a number '1', Fazakerley with a '2' and Shirley with a '3', e.g. 1###x for Maltby, 2###x for Fazakerley and for Shirley, 3###x, after the letter prefix. Late Shirley numbers then supposedly ran A4000 to A7999 and with PS prefixes at the very end of production. Post-war Fazakerley No.4 rifles had PF letter prefixes. The only exception to the 5-number sequence for No.4 rifles was the initial BSA Shirley production which ran from 0001 to 9999 then went with A to Z prefixes (A0001 to A9999 to the Z prefix) and some early dual letter prefixes (e.g. AT 0303), but then went over to A30001, &c. So early M47C No.4 rifle numbers could be confused with the Jungle carbine in having four rather than five numbers.

 

[POPS]

I have a #4 mk1, has the Savage S on front sight,trigger at top and on the bolt,square cocking piece.......its been ''scrubbed'' somewhat.... the British broad arrow is EVERYWHERE, along with the letter ''B'' including the furniture,,,,,,,
on left side SOCKETT is B8 ,THEN Z 1### with that letter and 4 didgets, electro penciled under it....
dated 1942,then a 3 stamped over the 2.
a second serial number is below that,AL1###X.
no serial number on barrel.....its a very good+ full wood with British web sling with broad arrow.....
so far,it appears to be a BSA ,SHIRLEY. that came to canada,where SAVAGE had sent parts as spares.......no FTR or LB/ Long branch markings......................guess this just adds to the confusion !!! POPS