No 4 MkI

The No4 MkI Rifle was approved for service in November 1939. It was manufactured in three factories in Great Britain. The Royal Ordinance Factory Maltby in Yorkshire, ROF  Fazakerly and Birmingham Small Arms Co. Shirley. It was contracted for production in North America at the Savage Arms Co. factory in the United States and the Longbranch factory near Toronto, Canada. Click on the pictures for larger views.

No1 MkVI - This was the direct predecessor to the No4 rifle. This rifle was produced in 1930. The original number was "x"ed out in 1941 and replaced with an "A" suffix noting a non-standard S/N.

1941 Royal Ordinance Factory Maltby No4 MkI - Malty was the first factory to complete a production run of No4 MkI rifles. 737,000 rifles were produced by the end of 1945. Proof marks denoting Maltby manufacture include:
M
ROF(M)
RM

Royal Ordinance Factory (Fazakerly) - Around 620,000 No4 MkI rifles were produced here by the end of 1945. This factory will continue to produce No4 rifles beyond WWII. Proofs denoting Fazakerly manufacture include:
ROF(F)
F
FY
Pics Courtesy of Sheldon J.

1941 BSA Shirley No4 MkI - Birmingham Small Arms Co. Shirley produced  around 665,000 No4 MkI rifles. These photos are the reciever siderail and reciever socket from a 1941 BSA No4 MkI. Proofs denoting BSA manufacture include:
B
85B
M47

1942 Savage No4 MkI - Contracted to produce No4 MkI rifles by Great Britain, Savage Arms Co. produced nearly 1.2 million rifles. The top photo is the reciever siderail for a Savage No4 MkI. The bottom photo is the receiver socket on a very early Savage No4 MkI*. The MkI* rifles are identified by the "C" in the rifles S/N. Proofs denoting Savage manufacture include:
S

Chinese markings on the stock of a Savage No4 MkI rifle. Most of these guns never made it to China but were used by the Chinese troops in India for training. However, a few did make it and are engraved on the side rail with a Chinese "chop".

These photos were provided for us to view coutesy of Bob Edwards from  Military Collector's Consortium.

1941 Longbranch No 4 MkI - Over 910,000 No4 MkI rifles were produced at the Longbranch factory near Toronto, Canada. The photo is a reciever siderail from a No4 MkI, only about 5,000 MkI rifles were produced before the switch to MkI*. The MkI* rifles are identified by having a "L" in the S/N. Proofs denoting Longbranch manufacture include:
LB

South African ownership mark on a Longbranch No4 MkI*

Longbranch manufactured No4 MkI* with a Mk3 rear peep sight. Sight is shown in raised and lowered position.

Military Conversion 7.62 mm No4 Rifle

Click on the pic for more info.
Photo and information courtesy of Bill W.