A request for help: Stock and shank markings

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   he!!o,

I've just acquired my first Lee Enfield and am trying to learn everything I can about the history of the rifle. I've been able to piece together that it is a 1942 produced Maltby No4 MK1, but unfortunately it was in quite rough condition and many of the marking are faded or outright absent. Located on the buttstock is a faded circular marking with what appears to be the number "300" at the top, a broad arrow in the middle, and the number "211" at the bottom. Was this a unit marking of some kind? Additionally the upper rear hand guard, which is a noticeably lighter colored wood than the rest, has the initials SL printed on the underside, which I thought may be a manufacturers mark but I've been unable to find references. Most of the shank markings are worn away and the only thing I can clearly make out is a * and a single letter T, though there is also some red paint or something similar located under the rear upper hand guard pictured with it serving an unknown purpose. Any information anyone could share here would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

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BradicalT Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: July 22 2025 Location: Virginia Status: Offline Points: 4	Post Options Post Reply Quote BradicalT Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: A request for help: Stock and shank markings Posted: July 22 2025 at 4:13pm
	he!!o, I've just acquired my first Lee Enfield and am trying to learn everything I can about the history of the rifle. I've been able to piece together that it is a 1942 produced Maltby No4 MK1, but unfortunately it was in quite rough condition and many of the marking are faded or outright absent. Located on the buttstock is a faded circular marking with what appears to be the number "300" at the top, a broad arrow in the middle, and the number "211" at the bottom. Was this a unit marking of some kind? Additionally the upper rear hand guard, which is a noticeably lighter colored wood than the rest, has the initials SL printed on the underside, which I thought may be a manufacturers mark but I've been unable to find references. Most of the shank markings are worn away and the only thing I can clearly make out is a * and a single letter T, though there is also some red paint or something similar located under the rear upper hand guard pictured with it serving an unknown purpose. Any information anyone could share here would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

A square 10 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: December 12 2006 Location: MN , USA Status: Offline Points: 16998	Post Options Post Reply Quote A square 10 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July 22 2025 at 5:33pm
	need to see full left face of the receiver

SW28fan Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: July 02 2007 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 3388	Post Options Post Reply Quote SW28fan Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July 22 2025 at 5:53pm
	One issue with Enfields is that they went as aid to many countries often being passed to several organizations and some added their own unique markings particularly on the stocks
	Have a Nice Day If already having a nice day please disregard

BradicalT Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: July 22 2025 Location: Virginia Status: Offline Points: 4	Post Options Post Reply Quote BradicalT Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July 22 2025 at 6:38pm
	My apologies, here's some more photos. I know it's a long shot, especially with how faded the markings are, but was hoping maybe someone might recognize something

Sapper740 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: July 15 2021 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 1737	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sapper740 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July 23 2025 at 2:59am
	I believe the * on top of the receiver ring is an armourer's stamp denoting rust or corrosion in the barrel.

Shamu Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Logo Designer / Donating Member Joined: April 25 2007 Location: MD, USA. Status: Offline Points: 20510	Post Options Post Reply Quote Shamu Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July 23 2025 at 8:43am
	Yes the star is (or was) it may have been replaced. Rust in bore or chamber
	Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)

DisasterDog Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: February 21 2025 Location: Brewery Status: Offline Points: 256	Post Options Post Reply Quote DisasterDog Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July 23 2025 at 9:03am
	The star on the chamber is often found on Indian rifles, apparently a good environment for such things. The roundel on the butt is an Indian ordnance marking, and the forearm has dimples around the lower band (can’t see if the band has the corresponding holes in it though) for attaching the RFI-pattern rifle grenade projector.

Shamu Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Logo Designer / Donating Member Joined: April 25 2007 Location: MD, USA. Status: Offline Points: 20510	Post Options Post Reply Quote Shamu Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July 24 2025 at 10:20am
	I'd second it being in India at some point. It has the "Ishy Screw" through the forend.
	Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)

A square 10 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: December 12 2006 Location: MN , USA Status: Offline Points: 16998	Post Options Post Reply Quote A square 10 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July 24 2025 at 6:17pm
	that explains some missing markings too , they scrubbed the ones they refurbed

BradicalT Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: July 22 2025 Location: Virginia Status: Offline Points: 4	Post Options Post Reply Quote BradicalT Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July 24 2025 at 10:57pm
	Thank you everyone who has shared some insight so far. I'm immensely grateful for everyone sho has shared their expertise. I was previously unaware of the .303 caliber rifles history in India, and was under the impression that India almost exclusively used Indian produced Lee Enfield in 7.62 NATO. Please forgive my ignorance if I'm incorrect, but it appears that India was generally kept a generation or so behind Britain in terms of small arms so was this potentially sold/donated to India around the time of the adoptation of the Rifle No. 5 or even the FAL? i discovered the rifle was sadly in worse condition than originally anticipated after cleaning the bore and discovering most of the rifling is gone, so it seems peoples interpretation of the * marking may be right right

DisasterDog Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: February 21 2025 Location: Brewery Status: Offline Points: 256	Post Options Post Reply Quote DisasterDog Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July 24 2025 at 11:15pm
	What markings are “missing”, exactly?