Strange markings on two No4 Lee Enfield receivers... mystery

louthepou

louthepou

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Hi folks, I posted this on milsurp.com and think you guys may enjoy trying to figure this one out; I have no idea what's going on and would love some insight.

I got a few years ago this stripped receiver, and never really looked at it until a few months ago. I then noticed that on the right side, there was a "22" lightly etched. I though, that's odd, maybe someone thought it was a weak receiver and decided to label it as only good for .22lr... or something like that.


Then a few weeks ago, I received some parts boxes in which I found a barreled receiver... and on the right side of the receiver, you guessed it, the same "22" lightly etched.


Now, I'm thinking this can't be just pure coincidence. These two receivers are unrelated; they came from totally different sources. But if there is some "official" reason for these markings, well they are really faint, and could very easily go unnoticed. So, dear friends, what's going on here? What should I do with these receivers?

Lou
 
Lou

Just guessing but 22 tsi would be the British chamber pressure for the 7.62x51 NATO cartridge. Just guessing but these receivers may have been proofed for the 7.62 L39/L42 and never assembled. After proofing the receiver and barrel were disassembled for final inspection and prep before re-assembly. After proofing if the headspace increased over .003 the receiver would fail proofing and you just might have two high mileage receivers with worn lug recesses.

Where were the receivers made and what are the serial numbers, another guess but low mileage receivers would have been used for converted Enfields. (lug recesses in good condition)

This is why No.4 bolt heads did not come into standard use, by the time a No.4 bolt head could be used the receiver lug recesses were normally beyond repair and had been battered to death. (heat treating worn away and softer steel exposed)
 
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Thanks Ron, DP51, much appreciated. Here are extra pics. Both receivers bear the ROF marking on the left side, and there seems to be quite a lot of info all jammed into a pile of nunmbers and letters. You will also note that in the first picture the top receiver was worked on... very badly by a previous owner. Not sure what the intention was, but the result isn't pretty; not sure if I'll be able to do to it to lessen the horror.



 
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