ROF Enfield Question

[bdtyre]

I just picked up a No. 4 MkI.

The markings on the band above the trigger guard are as follows:

8157
R OF
ROF
8157.

Bolt and barrel match. The right hand end of the receiver is marked with the crown mark and "England.:

The left hand side of the receiver, near the rear (just underneath the sight) is marked "FOR FACTORY DEFENCE ONLY." (or something similar - the DEFENCE ONLY party is very faint).

What exactly does this mean? Were these to be used as anti-aircraft rifles by ROF factories in case of a bombing run? (it does have the MkIII sight) Or is this sort of a factory reject? Everything appears mechanically sound and the rifle is in great shape - other than the fact that the rear upper handguard doesn't sit flush, and this is probably due to the fact that the barrell has been bedded.

I'll try to post some pictures over the next day or so, but the markings on the left hand side are very faint and may not even show in a pictures.

 

[louthepou]

You got me on this one. Hmm... Might require a bit of research... I'm thinking below-norm rifles that take a back seat...

Lou

 

[cantom]

Beater posted this pic a while back.

 

[TimC]

What does Skennerton say?

 

[bdtyre]

Cantom, the is exactly how my receiver is stamped. Other than the fact it is not as noticeable, and it looks like the messed up stamping "for" into it, as it appears to have been restamped.

 

[bdtyre]

Just an update. My wife researched this and supposedly the rifle is made by ROF Fazakerley for export and then returned there to be refurbished (serial number stamped twice) and then for whatever reason was deemed for factory defence only. It appears that this has also been Nitro Proofed, and the bolt -though it has the same #s as the rifle- is hand marked as MK II.

As I side note, I tried it the other day and had feed problems. Either I loaded the magazine improperly (I stacked the rounds, rather than seating them in front of one another) or the magazine is at fault. My problem is the same one as in another thread - the bolt would either pass right over the rounds or slam them into the feed ramp. I'm itching to take it out again and play around to see what the cause is.