Some dumb questions about my newly-acquired No.4 Mk1 star Long Branch F FTR

steelgray

steelgray

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I picked up a nice 1943 No.4 Mk1* Long Branch which has (F) FTR stamped on the upper receiver left wall. I have read that "That means it was upgraded to the No. 4 Mk 2 specifications; the main one being that the trigger was removed from the trigger guard and a new trigger was attached to the receiver. I believe the original flip sight was replaced with an adjustable ladder sight at that time also. FTR is the Brit's code for Factory Thorough Repair - the rifle was refurbished and upgraded at Fazerkerly.

According to my reference upgraded No. 4 Mk I were redesignated No. 4 Mk 1/2 and the No. 4 Mk I* were re-designated No. 4 Mk 1/3. The roman numerals were no longer used after the introduction of the No. 4 Mk 2."

This sounds good. Do others know if this information is true?

Some pictures of my gun are below. Has my gun had any modifications after the Factory Thorough Repair was performed at Fazerkerly?

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And
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And

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And
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Is this effectively an arsenal rework of an existing gun while still in the military's inventory? If so, does that mean that it really isn't a sporter (as the term is usually applied). As such, would this still qualify for a mil spec shoot day at my club - where the rule is only stock military guns - no sporters?
 
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It may or may not have a "hung trigger". It probably doesn't. Remove the trigger guard to find out for sure. FTR means that a rifle has been rebuilt and brought up to near new standard. New barrel, wood, finish etc. as required. A lot of jobs were retained at the ROF(F) post-war doing FTRs.
Your rifle was extensively modified after it was disposed of as surplus. The stocks are commercial. The charger bridge and rear sight pivots were removed from the receiver. The barrel was shortened and the front sight ramp installed. The receiver was drilled and tapped for the Williams sight. The short magazine may be a modified original. The long one is aftermarket commercial. Ensure that both fit and feed.
If it shoots well it would be a decent hunting rifle.
 
Definitely an after market sporter. Looks like the barrel has also been cut and shortened. I doubt it has the hung trigger. Fazakerly marked the up grades as 1/2 or 2/3 which is missing from your rifle. As far as being able to use it in an original military shoot I would say no due to commercial front site and rear. The forearm is definitely after market. Can’t see a band or screw hole at the back of the forearm. Some smaller club events may allow you to use it but most recognized military shoots won’t. We have let people use sporters but they must have original sites. My Enfield addiction started with a Parker Hale sporter which I still have and occasionally shoot.
Go to our Milsurp section and look up the Enfield sticky. Lots of information and pictures.
 
At our club, it would not be accepted for the military rifle competition. It was a service rifle. It is now a sporting rifle.
 
Try to post pics when the rifle is not in "cocked" position. Somehow, it doesn't look good. However, that is a nice old rifle. I am trying to cypher what the large overstamp says. Maybe someone can help?
 
The large overstamp is the rifle's serial number. When the rifle went through FTR, ROF engraved the number on the sidewall of the receiver.
 
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