Grandpa’s Enfield No4 Mk1
Printed From: Enfield-Rifles.com
Category: Enfields
Forum Name: Enfield Rifles
Forum Description: Anything that has to do with the great Enfield rifles!
URL: http://www.enfield-rifles.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=14371
Printed Date: March 26 2026 at 4:31pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.07 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Grandpa’s Enfield No4 Mk1
Posted By: Kaneman23
Subject: Grandpa’s Enfield No4 Mk1
Date Posted: January 19 2026 at 2:53pm
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This rifle belonged to my grandfather. Any idea of the manufacturer? I have owned it for years but haven’t shot much. I have been slowly working on it for the past couple of weeks to disassemble and clean. It doesn’t have a matching bolt but the rest of the s/n’s match. Additional photos https://imgur.com/gallery/enfield-YOTdU4i" rel="nofollow - https://imgur.com/gallery/enfield-YOTdU4i  |
Replies:
Posted By: DisasterDog
Date Posted: January 19 2026 at 5:47pm
| It’s a Maltby! |
Posted By: Kaneman23
Date Posted: January 19 2026 at 6:23pm
Thank you. Any idea what the * Asterisk mark is? There is also the letters DW underneath the wrist of the stock and an S stamped on the side. I am not sure how my grandfather acquired this rifle but it looks like it’s been through a war. It seems to function and shoot very well. The accuracy is impressive.
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DisasterDog wrote:Posted By: Kaneman23
Date Posted: January 19 2026 at 6:25pm
| I definitely want to get a sling for it. Any recommendations on getting an original or reproduction sling? |
Posted By: Canuck
Date Posted: January 19 2026 at 6:31pm
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Yes, an English made Maltby No.4/MK1. We would love to see more photos please. ------------- Castles made of sand slip into the sea.....eventually |
Posted By: britrifles
Date Posted: January 20 2026 at 4:33am
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Yes, and looks to be complete and not chopped up into a sporter. Also, I don’t see any FTR marking, so not been through a Factory Thorough Repair. The front handguard has slid forward, looks like it may be contacting the front sight protector. If you loosen the upper band screw, you can slide the hand guard back into position. A fix for this is to stake the back edge of the upper band so that the band will catch the edge of the handguard nose cap so it can’t slide forward. |
Posted By: Bear43
Date Posted: January 20 2026 at 6:47am
| A well worn but nice Maltby for sure. |
Posted By: britrifles
Date Posted: January 20 2026 at 8:59am
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Be aware that you will damage the fore-end by removing it incorrectly. It must be pushed off the action at the rear, pushing straight down; do not pry it off at the muzzle, that will crush the wood at the "draws", the wood surfaces that bear on the sear pin lugs in the action body (receiver). It looks like the wood is in need of some attention. A good cleaning with Murphy's Oil Soap mixed with hot water. Let dry a few days, then Linseed Oil. |
Posted By: bubba ho tep
Date Posted: January 20 2026 at 9:18am
| I really dont like cleaning any original wood stock - period. So many scrub down with soap and water and there goes the original finish. Then some use a chemical and it's a sh*t show. All I ever use is a good rub down and then rub off with an old towel is cheap Vaseline. It will not mar original finishes nor strip wood of color. Just my 2 cents as a purist. |
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: January 20 2026 at 10:39am
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Where is this asterix marking? I can't see it in any f the images. Are you sure its an asterix "*" & not a pair of "broad arrows" facing each other rather like this "-><-"? Its size, shape & position could mean one of several things. ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: DisasterDog
Date Posted: January 20 2026 at 11:07am
| It’s hard to see any * marking, but there may be one on top of the chamber, just behind the handguard ring. This is a rust marking, indicating rust was found in the chamber. It’s an armourers marking telling future armourers that some material may have been removed in order to treat said rust. |
Posted By: britrifles
Date Posted: January 20 2026 at 11:23am
I get that. When I fully stripped down one of my No. 4 rifles, I put all the metal bits (including the action body) in the UT cleaner. I thought perhaps I was destroying all that history by removing dirt it accumulated in the Normandy fields that may have been there since 1944. But, a grungy dark dirty stock didn't really appeal to me. |
Posted By: Kaneman23
Date Posted: January 20 2026 at 11:51am
I posted a link with more images. Had trouble uploading photos to the post.
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Posted By: Kaneman23
Date Posted: January 20 2026 at 11:56am
The fore-end came off rather easily without any prying or force. I used some denatured alcohol and a hairdryer to pull out the cosmoline. I didn’t want to use water, mineral spirits, or any high heat. It looks better than when I started but I didn’t want to change the natural finish, patina, or character. Didn’t think about Murphy’s Oil Soap. Maybe next time I clean it I will try. Thank you
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Posted By: Kaneman23
Date Posted: January 20 2026 at 12:03pm
That was my approach. I didn’t want to use any harsh chemicals or heat. Also did not want to use water. Just wanted to remove the tackiness from the cosmoline and not alter the finish. So many different methods out there.
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Posted By: Kaneman23
Date Posted: January 20 2026 at 12:12pm
There are a total of 3. One on the stock under the wrist, one on the barrel under the hand guard, and another on the top front of the receiver. 
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Posted By: Kaneman23
Date Posted: January 20 2026 at 12:16pm
Thank you Bear. It shoots surprisingly well and I prefer the worn look on these rifles.
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Posted By: Kaneman23
Date Posted: January 20 2026 at 12:22pm
Thank you for the info. Yes, the front handguard slid forward a bit and I have adjusted it since. The middle band is loose on the rifle and the rear hand guard was moving too much. I shimmed the middle band using an aluminum can. Wasn’t sure of the best way to fix. Should I stake the back edge on the middle band? I have only seen stakes on the front bands. Is a little play on the top hand guards normal?
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Posted By: Kaneman23
Date Posted: January 20 2026 at 12:28pm
Thank you DisasterDog. The barrel looks good but I didn’t notice some possible residue when first began cleaning. Rifling is deep and bore is shiny after running JB bore paste and Kroil on a mop through.
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Posted By: Kaneman23
Date Posted: January 20 2026 at 12:53pm
  More photos |
Posted By: paddyofurniture
Date Posted: January 20 2026 at 1:35pm
| Very nice, |
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: January 20 2026 at 1:36pm
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Is that a "DP" stamp on the stock, under the pistol grip, next to the "*" ?
------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: hoadie
Date Posted: January 20 2026 at 1:40pm
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To me it looks like a "DW" ------------- Loose wimmen tightened here |
Posted By: Bear43
Date Posted: January 20 2026 at 1:56pm
| Looks like "DW" to me as well. |
Posted By: Kaneman23
Date Posted: January 20 2026 at 2:20pm
| Looks like DW. Not sure what it means. |
Posted By: DisasterDog
Date Posted: January 20 2026 at 2:23pm
| The * rust marking means rust was found & treated appropriately. Many peoples reaction is “it looks fine to me”, and it does, because it was already dealt with. They wouldn’t have marked it & then just left the rust, that would be pointless. It’s a note to future armourers since polishing does remove material from the chamber. Do it enough times & you've enlarged the chamber. |
Posted By: paddyofurniture
Date Posted: January 20 2026 at 3:40pm
| Good to know, thanks. |
Posted By: Kaneman23
Date Posted: January 24 2026 at 7:35pm
Do you know what the DW stamp means?
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Posted By: Sapper740
Date Posted: January 25 2026 at 3:01am
| Generally, W* signifies the barrel is cord worn but that is usually a stamp on the knox form, not the fore end wood. |
Posted By: A square 10
Date Posted: January 25 2026 at 6:37pm
| very nice complete rifle |