I just bought a No.4 Mk.1 which I have not taken possession of yet. I had the seller give me info from the rifle. It is matching. Serial No. ###A. Stamped 1947 ROF (F) and re-stamped F (R) /47. Also stamped on receiver ring "Regulated by Fulton". Apparently in as-new condition. I have inspection rights to refuse if it's not as described. It never rains but it pours. Dave
What do I have? No.4 Mk.1 LE
- Thread starter Dantforth
- Start date
Geeez Badger....you must have been poised over your computer. Thanks, I will have photos soon. What significance does the Regulated by Fultons have? Also, does the serial number not look odd to you? I didn't think from my very limited reference material that Lee Enfield numbers ended in a letter.
Rifle is home now on approval. Bore is dark...trying to clean. Only mark on beech stock is a big "T" ahead of the mag well. Normal #4 barrel with bayo lugs. Serial # marked on receiver left side, bolt and the metal seperating the butt and forewood. Broad arrows. Receiver marked ROFM No.4 Mk.1, 1941 and also No.4 Mk.1 (F) FTR/47. There is no * beside the 1 at all as I usually see. Threaded 3/32" hole below charger bridge on left side of receiver which looks odd to me. Mk.3 flip up rear sight. Anything stand out to anyone? I will post pics later. Dave
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Mk. I - has the separate bolt release catch, not the cutout in the guide rib like most North American No. 4s. Made 1941 at Royal Ordnance Factory Maltby, refurbished at Fazakerly in 1947. Fultons would have set it up for target shooting after that. At the time they breathed on it, it would have been a sound rifle, they wouldn't have wasted their time on it otherwise. If the bore is dark, that happened later, not when the rifle was being used for target shooting. Target rifles can have eroded throats, from a lot of shooting, but are otherwise clear. Does it have a centre swivel just in front of the magazine? It probably would have had a PH5C or similar sight fitted at one time. With the Fultons mark, it would be appropriate to install one. Cross your fingers, the bore might just be fouled. Bought a Swiss Vetterli last weekend, the bore was black with evidence of rifling. It cleaned up to shiney with minor imperfections.
Dark bore....
My arms are sore from scrubbing. Has come along some but not as I'd like yet. Lots of rifling though and lots of brown crud on patches. Has a sling swivel on the butt and on the center band. Would the threaded hole on the left side have been used for mounting a PH sight? Did they normally remove the bolt catch when the rifle was refurb'd or when it was upgraded to a 1*. Are #1's more desireable then #1*'s? It's my OCD acting up! Dave
My arms are sore from scrubbing. Has come along some but not as I'd like yet. Lots of rifling though and lots of brown crud on patches. Has a sling swivel on the butt and on the center band. Would the threaded hole on the left side have been used for mounting a PH sight? Did they normally remove the bolt catch when the rifle was refurb'd or when it was upgraded to a 1*. Are #1's more desireable then #1*'s? It's my OCD acting up! Dave
The PH sights mounted using a screw into the ejector hole on the left side of the receiver, and another screw passing from right to left through the left rear sight pivot hole. If there is no ejector screw in the left receiver wall, it was probably left out when the target sight was removed. The Brits were never big on the Mk. I* version, considered the Mk. I to be better. I* is cheaper to make, I is mechanically superior. It is not an upgrade, was a manufacturing shortcut.
stencollector
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- shilo MB, the armpit of Canada
Quite often the A after a serial number of a British weapon was a caution that there may be some non-interchangeable parts used on the rifle.
Further to what Tiriaq mentoned about the mk1 vs mk1*, the mk1* were somewhat prone to having damage/wear occur to the area around the bolt head release slot, rendering the action unserviceable when it got too bad. Nothing like having your bolt head pop up when you are tryng to reload during a gun fight.
Further to what Tiriaq mentoned about the mk1 vs mk1*, the mk1* were somewhat prone to having damage/wear occur to the area around the bolt head release slot, rendering the action unserviceable when it got too bad. Nothing like having your bolt head pop up when you are tryng to reload during a gun fight.
stencollector
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- shilo MB, the armpit of Canada
The damage to the rail is usually attributed to using a mk1 bolthead in a mk1* rifle. The mk1* bolthead has a bit of a bevel to help prevent it from climbing up and dinging the rail.cantom said:
Not sure how much truth there is to this, as the Cdn parts manual does not differentiate betweeen the mk1 and mk1* boltheads.
- Location
- WMU248 near Edmonton
stencollector said:
Had one with this problem, bolt head kept popping up out of the rail.
Solution was a little work with a stone on the rail and bolt head guide slot. Works good now.
Interesting fact...just took one of Ben Hunchaks great cast bullets (M T Chambers Supply) in .311" and tried it in both No.1 Mk.3's, a P14 and the No.4 Mk.1 in question here. It is very obvious that the barrel on the Fulton Regulated model, in spite of the darkness, is much tighter than all the others. It is coming along. Darkness is improving but can see slight pitting on shiny parts.
