Enfield Rifle No.4 Mk2

M1A

M1A

Well-known member
Bronze Supporter
Joined
Feb 1, 2015
Messages
1,101
Reaction score
1,887
Location
1945
Now, with better weather, it's battle rifle time. One of my favorites. Actually they are all my favorite you just "love the one your with".
A FAZ Enfield Rifle No.4 Mk2 born in 1949 and FTR'd in 1954. From IMA I got the spike bayonet and a web sling they kindly found stamped 1949.
A really nice rifle to shoot.
I would like to see some others.
 

Attachments

  • Enfield 1.jpg
    Enfield 1.jpg
    49.5 KB · Views: 74
  • Enfield 2.jpg
    Enfield 2.jpg
    55.8 KB · Views: 58
  • Enfield and bayonet.JPG
    Enfield and bayonet.JPG
    116.7 KB · Views: 51
Last edited:
For more consistent sear engagement the MK2s trigger pivot was moved from the trigger guard to the receiver. More importantly the chambers of post WWII SMLEs were not reamed over size so they give reloaders good brass life. The last few years, about 1955 to 1956 they shipped with a clip point blade bayonet. I do not know about 1949. It's to bad they didn't make a handle the blade could be attached to so it would double as a camping knife.

"love the one you're with." Yes indeed. The only incurable disease you risk is hearing loss.
 
Last edited:
Nice rifle.

There was a time I was heavily into No4s and had one from each of the makers, including POF. Great rifles with a lot of history.

Have winnowed down the collection. Now only have a 43 Long Branch (New Zealand marked and looks like it sat out the war there as it is in pristine condition) and another Long Branch that was a "Greek Issue."
The Greeks took very good care of their rifles.

The NZ marked Long Branch:



 
Last edited:
Nice looking old girl there. Just recently picked up my first Enfield after years of looking at them on and off . ( Sorry, need to takes pics yet.) Mine is a 1964' Ishapore 2A version though. The 7.62 NATO cambering appealed to me since I already stock supplies for and reload for 308. I've since developed some pretty nice (and economical ) reduced power loads using 4895 to feed it and couldn't be happier with my choice.
 
M1A said:
Hanno, that's a neat deal. Did you make the funnel?
Click to expand...

No, those funnels were purpose made for issue to the troops.

When I shot a lot of corrosive .303 ammo, I used to take one of those and a Thermos of hot soapy water to the range with me. I know there are simpler ways, I liked doing it the way the troops did.
 
Last edited:
M1, back in the 1970's, I used a "sporterized" No. 4 to hunt white-tails here in Georgia. My do everything, go everywhere, rifle that sometimes rode in the squad car. Black Panther killers were stalking cops back then. Georgia boys sometimes improvised when shotguns and M-1 carbines were scarce. All of us had a long arm supporting our sidearm during those turbulent times. Mine was the No. 4 with spare 10-round magazine at the ready.

David
 
Last edited:
Mine is a 1914 22lr training rifle that I purchased back in 67 thru the mail.History is written all over the rifle,from it's patched stock,to all the queens markings,and stamps. Great shooter. My mind can not visualize how many lives have handled this rifle my son calls Old Bess.
 
Always had a soft spot for No. 4's , mine was bought in 1968 , 1942 , Birmingham Small Arms manufacture. Used very little. I got it to "sporterize" , but being a procrastinator of sorts , just never got around to doing it , pulled out it of closet , cleaned it up, rubbed some tung oil on the wood and decided that it didn't need any of my unprofessional gun wrecking . A new bullet mould and some Unique and Red Dot powders for loading up ammo and she's back in action.

I only wish I had a working camera....I can't post any photo's right now , darn it !

Gary
 
Is the OP's rifle polycoated?:eek::eek::eek: Looks awfully shiny.

That's a VERY early Mk2 with a 1949 build date. Some sources even claim an overlap between the last Mk1 and the first Mk2 serials, but I've never seen proof.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: M1A
hanno said:
Nice rifle.

There was a time I was heavily into No4s and had one from each of the makers, including POF. Great rifles with a lot of history.

Have winnowed down the collection. Now only have a 43 Long Branch (New Zealand marked and looks like it sat out the war there as it is in pristine condition) and another Long Branch that was a "Greek Issue."
The Greeks took very good care of their rifles.

The NZ marked Long Branch:
Click to expand...

Highly jealous of your NZ marked rifle.:)

I picked up another No.4 just yesterday. Built at Longbranch as a No.4 Mk1* in 1943 and reworked at Fazakerley in 1953 as a No.4 Mk1/3. Been after one of these for a while. They used new Mk2 wood during the rebuild. My No.4 Mk1/2 had the original wood modified to Mk2 spec.

No pictures as we are getting an early monsoon here. It has "LDS" over "20" painted on the buttstock, maybe from time in the Mormon army.;)
 
Mine's a '52 Faz. Wonder if it served in Korea or against Mau-Mau terrorists. Has a rack number and is in really nice condition. They took care of it.

Family member has an as new one that came wrapped in paper, in cosmoline, which was a bear to remove. One of the last ones from 1955, with a lighter wood stock.

Were those light stocks birch?

My first No. 4 was a Savage/Stevens. Got it for Christmas when I was a young teen. I was already studying British small arms, as well as guns generally. And I was reading true war accounts, looking for photos of the arms used.

I think I got the No. 4 MK I* .303 for Christmas the same year I got a Webley MK VI revolver. My first two real guns, other than a single-shot .410. I was 13, and the L-marked (long) stock didn't fit me as well as it did until I'd grown a little.
 
Last edited:
Texas Star said:
Mine's a '52 Faz. Wonder if it served in Korea or against Mau-Mau terrorists. Has a rack number and is in really nice condition. They took care of it.

Family member has an as new one that came wrapped in paper, in cosmoline, which was a bear to remove. One of the last ones from 1955, with a lighter wood stock.

Were those light stocks birch?

My first No. 4 was a Savage/Stevens. Got it for Christmas when I was a young teen. I was already studying British small arms, as well as guns generally. And I was reading true war accounts, looking for photos of the arms used.

I think I got the No. 4 MK I* .303 for Christmas the same year I got a Webley MK VI revolver. My first two real guns, other than a single-shot .410. I was 13, and the L-marked (long) stock didn't fit me as well as it could have until I'd grown a little.
Click to expand...

I had several of those war reserve Mk2s (bought them still in the wrap). Those were the days!

The wood is beech.
 
There was a Bowie style knife bayonet with a pivoting butt. Don't know how well it worked. I think the wider blade socket bayonet replaced the spike one, at least partially.

South Africa had a more dagger bladed socket bayonet. I've seen it and the one with the pivoting butt only in photos. We have a member there who owns an ex-Navy No. 4. Maybe he'll see this and picture the bayonet, if he has that.

That spike bayonet must have received a lot of derision and doubt from the troops.
 
Last edited:
LVSteve said:
Is the OP's rifle polycoated?:eek::eek::eek: Looks awfully shiny.

I would like to say it's ren wax, but your correct. After the M1A got me back to iron sights I just grabbed this one. My entry to the milsurps disease. I had to move the front sight a smidge, and it's a good shooter.
Click to expand...
 
Texas Star said:
There was a Bowie style knife bayonet with a pivoting butt. Don't know how well it worked. I think the wider blade socket bayonet replaced the spike one, at least partially.

South Africa had a more dagger bladed socket bayonet. I've seen it and the one with the pivoting butt only in photos. We have a member there who owns an ex-Navy No. 4. Maybe he'll see this and picture the bayonet, if he has that.

That spike bayonet must have received a lot of derision and doubt from the troops.
Click to expand...

Yes, the very cool No 7 Mk1/L bayonets, used on the No 4 rifle and the Sten.

When I downsized, I sold a couple of them and alas, didn't keep any pictures. They had the swivel butt, blued blades and reddish bakelite grips. Very neat bayonets.

There are some nice images of the No 7 Mk1/L on Bing but I don't want to violate any copyright policy by posting them here.
 
Last edited:
I love the 303 Enfields but never got too interested in any of them past the No1MkIII. the earlier the better for me.

I did have a #4 sniper rig many many years ago and foolishly sold it. Two #5 carbines came and went .
My brother still has a sporterized LongBranch#4 he bought in the mid 60's for something like $8.

I did own 3 of the 2A1 model Ishapore 7.62 rifles and regret not keeping one of those.
The first one cost something like $77 and change from SOG,,thing was like brand new and with a rust blued metal finish too. Maybe because they are a No1 variation is why I liked them.
I put a No1 butt stock on one of them to give it the old style drop.


Enfields are addicting and there are enough different variations to please most everyone.
 
Great minds think alike. Just so happens I also have a FAZ from 1949 in a blond stock. Have had it for over 20 some odd years. The other #4 I have is a 1942 Long Branch #4MKI* that may be a Parker Hale sporter as it has a ramp front sight but they kept the milled back sight. BBL cut down to 22" as well as the forearm. Two groove barrel. Don't remember if the FAZ went through FTR or what year. Frank
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Back
Top