RARE Enfield (Holland & Holland) No4 Mk1 (T) Sniper Rifle & Scope, Black 25” Import Marked Bolt Action Rifle, MFD 1944 C&R
SOLD FOR:$2,605.00
LSB#: 151208CA02
Make: Enfield. BSA Shirley, England
Model: No4 MkI (T)
Serial Number: AT9697
Year of Manufacture: 1944
Caliber: .303 British
Action Type: Bolt Action, Detachable Magazine
Markings: The import mark on the right front of the receiver reads “ENGLAND”. The left side of the receiver is marked “No.4 Mk.I” and “T” (signifying a No.32 telescope had been fitted, and the combination had met all inspections). The front of the receiver is marked with a “crowned” stamping on the right; the rear is marked two “crowned” inspection stamps. The stock collar is marked with the serial number, “M47C” (the code for BSA Shirley), “1944” and “TR” (the final inspection proof prior to being upgraded by Holland & Holland). The front of the magazine well is marked “M/47C” and “R”. The middle barrel band is marked “S”. The top of the nose cap is marked “SM”. The front of the barrel is marked with an overstamped “crown / BNP” proof and “.303 ‘2.22’ / 18.5 TON”. The rear of the bolt handle is marked “80L” and with the last 4 digits of the serial number; the bottom is marked “M1” and with a partial stamping. The bolt head is marked “2” and with an overstamped “crown / crossed flags”. The face of the front sight is marked “NS7”; the top is marked “OFB / .03”. The face of the front sights wings is marked with an “arrow head” and with another small stamping. The rear sight is marked “S” on the left, on top and on the back. The top of the grip is marked the scope number “11298” and with a second number “9444”. The bottom of the grip is marked with an inverted “V”, a six pointed star, “SL / N / 74” and with two “crowned” inspection stamps. The underside of the buttstock is marked “S 51” which is a Holland and Holland mark. The underside of the stock, to the rear of the middle barrel band, is marked “P”. The underside of the forearm is marked with the last 4 digits of the serial number, “SL / N / 74” “arrow” and with a “crowned” inspection stamp. The magazine follower is marked “3”. The rear of the magazine is marked “F”. The scope’s zeroing tool is marked “TOOL NO. 32 / STG. TEL. MK1” on the body and “OS 3901” on the top handle.
Barrel Length: Approximately 25 Inches
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade set between two protective ears. The rear sight is a flip up sight ladder marked from “2 – 13”. There is no rear sight aperture when the ladder is down due to the scope. The left side of the receiver has two threaded holes for accepting the scope base that is attached to the scope. The scope is a fixed 3 power with a post reticle. The scope is attached to a one piece mount with two rings. The mounting screws are integral to the base. The scope is marked “TEL. SIGHTING / No 32 Mk 2 / H.B.M.Co. OS. 1650 A / REGD No 11298 / arrow”. The bottom of the brass housing is marked “V1”. The top knob is marked “0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10”. The side knob is marked “16 12 8 4 0 4 8 12 16”. The right side of the two scope ring tops and matching base bottoms are marked “31 B” on the rear and “32B” on the front. The left side of the scope base is marked “N 92”and with “C38529”. The scope ring screw heads shows heavy use. The oversized mounting screws show frosting. The ring and base assembly is in about Good too Very Good condition. The scope’s glass appears slightly fogged with a slight haze to the view. The target knobs turn and the scope appears to function correctly. The tube and knobs show scrapes and oxidation. The tube shows surface erosion, mostly on the rear. The scope is in about Good condition. The scope also comes with a two piece leather scope lens cover. It is marked “U.K.” on both ends. It shows discoloration and compression marks. It is in about Very Good condition. A zeroing tool is provided with the scope. It shows some discoloration and is in about Fine condition.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The four piece, hardwood stock has a straight grip, raised check piece, serrated upper hand guard, nose caps, two barrel bands, two sling loops, and a brass buttplate with hinged door for storage. The raised cheek piece is scalloped at the grip and is secured by two screws. The right side of the grip has a section of surface wood that appears to have been glued back on to the grip. Both sides of the grip show long hairline cracks that extend past the buttstock’s center. The remainder of the wood shows various scrapes, scratches and compression marks. Some are deep and have removed surface wood. The grip and buttstock feel sturdy, but we do not know if the cracks were glued or repaired when the surface wood on the grip was repaired. The LOP measures 13 1/4 from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The stock rates in about Good to Very Good overall condition.
Type of Finish: Black
Finish Originality: Refinished
Bore Condition: The groves are dark and the lands are grey. The rifling is deep. There is erosion in the groves.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 96% of its finish, as refinished. The metal has been refinished but some imperfection on the metal show through the new finish. The nose caps and front barrel band are scraped. The front of the barrel shows thinning and a freckling of frosting. The trigger guard shows light marks. The buttplate shows scrapes, scratches and oxidation. The remainder of the finish shows light handling marks. The screw heads show light use. Some of the markings are light. Overall, this rifle rates in about Very Good Plus condition, as refinished.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this rifle. As with all previously owned firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork& Accessories: The rifle comes with a scope assembly and zeroing tool; see above. It also comes with a 10 round refinished magazine that shows light scrapes and light thinning. It is in about Fine condition. The rifle comes in an aluminum case with two manuals and a book. The book is titled, An Armourer’s Perspective: .303 No. 4 (T) SNIPER RIFLE and the Holland and Holland Connection”. It is authored by Peter Laidler. The book is shows some discoloration on the edges and handling marks. It is in about Very Good to Fine condition. The manuals are marked “NOTES ON THE TRAINING OF SNIPERS / MILITARY TRAINING PAMPHLET No. 44 / 1940” and “TELECOPE SIGHTING NO. 32 / An inside view of the Snipers rifle telescope”. Both show creases and discoloration. They are in about Very Good Plus condition. The aluminum case has foam inserts, a carrying handle, two small locking combination latches, two large locking latches (but we have no key to lock them) and a carrying handle. The foam inserts show indentations and some tears. The exterior of the case has a bent edge. The case will lock shut but not mate at one of the side edge seems. One small corner piece of the case is missing. There are numerous scrapes and scratches on the exterior of the case. The case is in about Good to Very Good condition.
Our Assessment: This is a rare Enfield No4 Mk1 (T) sniper rifle. It started out as an Enfield No4 Mk1 made at BSA Shirley. It was selected for its inherent accuracy and then upgraded to a sniper by Holland & Holland. It comes with a No. 32 Mk 2 scope assembly, books relating to the rifle & scope, a zeroing tool for the scope and an aluminum carrying case. This rifle has been refinished and we believe the importer made an error on the second digit of the serial number when they remarked the receiver. We believe the “T” was originally “3”, which would correlate with 1944 serial numbers at BSA Shirley. The scope that comes with the rifle mounts properly but it is does not appear to be the first scope to be paired with this rifle as the top of the grip is marked with two numbers.
For an article on the process of taking a No4 Mk1 and making it into a sniper, please see: http://www.allaboutenfields.co.nz/links-resouces/articles/from-no4mk-i-t-l42-ai/. Good Luck.
