Hi All,
I’m new to Enfield firearms. Today I picked up a, what I think is a 1943 Shirley from what I’ve been reading on the Net. That said, I no virtually nothing about these rifles and I was hoping some of you could shed some light on my confusion.
For one, this is a Century import and although it is in nice shape appearance wise, the serial numbers appear to have been scrubbed. Here is an overview of the markings I can find. On the rear band I can clearly see a “M47”, but it is not followed by a “C” as I’ve read should be there. Below the M47 is clearly the year 1943. Below that, if I look closely with a flashlight I can see the vague remnant of the serial number. I see what I think are a couple of letters, possible an “A” and an “E” (but I’m not sure), followed by a 27, followed by possibly an 80.
On the rear of the bolt I can see the slight imprint of what looks to be a unidentifiable letter followed by what appears to be a “B” followed by 27567.
Underneath the wood in front of the receiver, I can clearly see a “B”, and what looks like half of a “4”, followed by a clear “3”.
The front metal in front of the wood has an “AB”, the front band a “CEW”, and the top of the front sight has a small “SM” and either three other letters opposite, or three numbers that I can quite make out.
On the safety/takedown lever I see a “B” and an arrow. I see the arrow on some other parts also including the rear of the trigger guard (possibly with a crown, but only the very top of what appears to be the crown is there, just below the arrow. Could be something else).
The wood has a variety of markings including an “MM” on the front wood, and on the bottom portion of the buttstock, just behind the trigger guard a “SL”, then a six pointed star over a “V”, over what appears to be a small crown with a “W-M and the number 70 below it.
On the buttplate there is a “M/216”. Interesting the buttplate screws have dirt in the screw slots.
I sure would greatly appreciate it if someone could shed some light on the markings and especially why the serial numbers were scrubbed, and why the M47 isn’t followed by a “C”. I was looking for a gun of English manufacture to add to my Man Cave WWII collection, and I’m really just hoping that this is a genuine English manufactured gun, and not some other manufacturer.
Thanks very much for any help. I’ll try to get pictures up sometime soon.
Forgot to mention, price tag was $239.
I’m new to Enfield firearms. Today I picked up a, what I think is a 1943 Shirley from what I’ve been reading on the Net. That said, I no virtually nothing about these rifles and I was hoping some of you could shed some light on my confusion.
For one, this is a Century import and although it is in nice shape appearance wise, the serial numbers appear to have been scrubbed. Here is an overview of the markings I can find. On the rear band I can clearly see a “M47”, but it is not followed by a “C” as I’ve read should be there. Below the M47 is clearly the year 1943. Below that, if I look closely with a flashlight I can see the vague remnant of the serial number. I see what I think are a couple of letters, possible an “A” and an “E” (but I’m not sure), followed by a 27, followed by possibly an 80.
On the rear of the bolt I can see the slight imprint of what looks to be a unidentifiable letter followed by what appears to be a “B” followed by 27567.
Underneath the wood in front of the receiver, I can clearly see a “B”, and what looks like half of a “4”, followed by a clear “3”.
The front metal in front of the wood has an “AB”, the front band a “CEW”, and the top of the front sight has a small “SM” and either three other letters opposite, or three numbers that I can quite make out.
On the safety/takedown lever I see a “B” and an arrow. I see the arrow on some other parts also including the rear of the trigger guard (possibly with a crown, but only the very top of what appears to be the crown is there, just below the arrow. Could be something else).
The wood has a variety of markings including an “MM” on the front wood, and on the bottom portion of the buttstock, just behind the trigger guard a “SL”, then a six pointed star over a “V”, over what appears to be a small crown with a “W-M and the number 70 below it.
On the buttplate there is a “M/216”. Interesting the buttplate screws have dirt in the screw slots.
I sure would greatly appreciate it if someone could shed some light on the markings and especially why the serial numbers were scrubbed, and why the M47 isn’t followed by a “C”. I was looking for a gun of English manufacture to add to my Man Cave WWII collection, and I’m really just hoping that this is a genuine English manufactured gun, and not some other manufacturer.
Thanks very much for any help. I’ll try to get pictures up sometime soon.
Forgot to mention, price tag was $239.
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