Guns International #: 102692562
Seller's Inventory #: 1290210
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Guns International #: 102692562
Category - BSA Rifles
- Military Rifles - British
BSA BSA LEE ENFIELD NO. 4 MK I WWII French Resistance WARTIME matching numbers .303 BRITISH
Description: Guns Listing ID: 1290210 Markings: “1944” Year of Manufacturing “M47C” – WWII Wartime Code identifying the factory as “BSA Shirley”. The Birmingham Small Arms Company (B.S.A.) factory was located on Marshall Lake Road, Shirley, Solihull, Warwickshire. This was one of three (3) BSA factories in the “Midlands” Birmingham area. The Shirley Factory only produced rifles during the war. “J.C.” – British furniture maker, British manufacturer of stocks, is identified by the “J.C.” for John Curtis. This is the “Makers Mark” which also has a small “N22” which the British identified the wartime code of John Curtis & Sons who were contracted for the wook stocks and furnishings. “V.N.S.” – Viner’s Ltd., Sheffield, United Kingdom contracted metal parts and furniture for rifles during the war. Also stamped on the rifle is “N79” which was the wartime code identifying Viner’s Ltd., Sheffield. Other small stamps include the British Crown and BSA Inspection Marking (Stamp). The Serial Number also identifies the BSA Shirley factory as the serial number starts with “3” History: During 1944, the US and UK cooperatively ran a major effort to drop arms and equipment to French Resistance forces in preparation for the Allied landings in France. It began as Operation Carpetbagger with night drops from B24 Liberators in January 1944, and escalated into the summer. Eventually a number of massive daytime drops were made, totally more than 800 sorties and dropping 2.7 million pounds of equipment. The single most common firearm dropped was the MkII Sten, but containers also included Brens, handguns, M1 Carbines, bazookas, and No4 Enfields (along with ammunition). After the country was liberated, the new government tried to collect up as many of the weapons as possible. They didn’t get them all (not by a long shot, actually), but many were put into government storage, including this No4 Lee Enfield. It was marked with a “PP” property mark and inventory number, and stashed away until being sold as surplus recently. Navy Arms has imported a small group of original World War II dated Enfield #4 Mark 1 rifles in .303 British that were provided to French resistance fighters and commandos and helped liberate Europe from Nazi occupation. These guns were dropped by parachute by the thousands into France by the Allies in large metal pods. These guns were purchased directly from the French Government who had them stored in deep underground caves in Southern France since 1946. This Enfield has the #4 Mk I style stamped rear sight as shown, bores are excellent with little to no wear and no pitting, bright and shiny! Wood is original walnut, no cracks, with original finish and inspection marks/cartouches intact. The bolt is serial numbered to the gun, YES MATCHING SERIAL NUMBERS. This rifle’s serial number is P35170. This rifle is marked M47C 1944 \"BS\" and is stamp dated 1944 as well. There is a storage number with a \"PP\" Prefix on the receivers, which was put on by the French Government at the end of the war as a unique reference number for each gun. This gun is marked PP1076 by the French government as they collected the remaining Enfield rifles for long term storage. The French government had stored these guns without the magazines over 75 years ago deep inside underground caves, and in that time has misplaced them, so each rifle comes with a Navy Arms Parker-Hale reproduction magazine made in the identical style as the originals. These are truly exceptional examples of World War II Enfield #4 Mk 1 rifles. There is a very limited supply, do not miss out on adding this unique example to your collection. Each listing is specific to each gun individually shown and with detailed photographs of the actual gun for each listing so the photos you see on this listing will be the actual firearm you receive if you order this gun. These guns are curios and relics. Rifle details: Sling: original World War II issued sling Rear sight: #4 Mk II style stamped rear sight Bore: Bores are excellent with little to no wear and no pitting Wood: Original walnut with no cracks, original finish and inspection marks/cartouches intact BARREL LENGTH IN INCHES 25.0000 CALIBER .303 BRITISH CHECKERING NO DETACHABLE MAGAZINE YES, COMES WITH ONE MAGAZINE Dimension 4.30 X 8.30 X 46.60 HINGED FLOORPLATE NO MAGAZINE CAPACITY 10 ROUND MAGAZINE METAL FINISH BLUED OTHER FEATURES: MATCHING SERIAL NUMBER BOLT REPRO MAG, ORIGINAL SLING, BORE APPEARS NEW NEEDS CLEANING AFTER YEARS OF STORAGE IN GREASE OVERALL LENGTH IN INCHES 44.5000 RATE OF TWIST N/A RECOIL PAD NO SIGHTS ORIGINAL FLIP UP ADJUSTABLE ENFIELD #4 MKII SIGHT STOCK MATERIAL WALNUT HARDWOOD SWIVEL STUDS YES TYPE ACTION BOLT, MATCHING SERIAL NUMBER TO RIFLE WEIGHT IN POUNDS 9.2 HEIGHT 4.3000 WIDTH 8.3000 LENGTH 46.6000 STOCK COLOR WALNUT HARDWOOD METAL COLOR BLUED Price: $1,040.99 Curio/Relic: Yes Manufacturer: BSA Model: BSA LEE ENFIELD NO. 4 MK I WWII French Resistance WARTIME matching numbers Caliber Info: .303 BRITISH Condition: Used - Non-Certified Barrels: 25 BARREL Finish: WALNUT, BLUED Contact Seller |
Guns International #: 102692562
Seller's Inventory #: 1290210
Guns International #: 102692562
Seller's Inventory #: 1290210