For Sale: Lee-Enfield Rifle No. 4 MK I POF

Lee-Enfield rifles served as the core arm of the British military throughout the Empire and Commonwealth from the late 1800s until the mid-1900s. While the Rifle No. 1 Mk III* had become the primary rifle pattern by the end of the First World War, continued evolution in design during the interwar years eventually lead to the Rifle No. 1 Mk VI, which was sent for trials in 1930. However, in 1931 the Mk VI was redesignated the Lee-Enfield Rifle No. 4 MK I. Formal adoption of the No. 4 MK 1 rifle occurred in November of 1939, after the outbreak of war.

Obvious characteristics of the Lee-Enfield Rifle No. 4 MK I that differ from its Mk VI predecessor include a lack of a safety catch recess and checking on the forearm, the forend is redesigned with the barrel extending out from the stock, the left receiver wall is both flat and higher, and the butt socket is no longer marked with action body designations. The bayonet was also changed from a sword type that had previously attached to a lug on the nosecap to a short, cruciform style which attached to the barrel. Owing to its role in the Second World War and adoption by former colonies and small nations around the world, the Lee-Enfield Rifle No. 4 MK I has some of the largest production figures within the lineage of Lee-Enfield rifles. Also notable is the fact that the majority of No. 4 MK I production took place overseas and not within the British Isles.

Presented here is a Lee-Enfield Rifle No. 4 MK I produced by Pakistan Ordnance Factory (POF) at Wah Cantt on machinery and tooling purchased from BSA Shirley in the early to mid-1950s. Manufactured in 1956, the receiver is marked ‘No. 4 MK I’ over ’56/P.O.F/B13569’ in two lines on the left side. The serial numbers match on the butt socket, left side; receiver; bolt; forearm; and is arsenal restamped on the magazine.

Overall good condition with service handling marks on wood and some service wear on metal. Many proof/inspector’s/other markings as noted in photos. Two cartouches exist on the right side of the buttstock. The rear most reads ‘2 1 9’ inside a circle and the second, closest to the receiver, is a very faint post Indian independence ownership/arsenal roundel. Bore is fair to good, clean, bright, with defined shallow rifling.

See pictures for overall condition. FFL or C&R required for purchase.