Help identifying a Lee Enfield

[StueyD]

Hi all,

So I procured myself a Lee Enfield No.4 MK1* 1943.

The bits of info I was given was it was an old Canadian 303 that was sent to the Italians for their army and navy.

I can't seem to find any info on the markings though.

The butt under the grip has, what looks like
8/34

The side has what looks like CIP N
And a coat of arms possibly with a cross through it.

Can anyone help as I can't find these markings on any of the usual resources.

Cheers
Stu

 

[webley701]

The CIP set are proof marks, applied way after the rifle was made. They appear to be Italian ones which would tie in with your history of the piece.

 

[Dalua]

Is the first pic of a Gardone proof-mark of 2014?

 

[StueyD]

The CIP set are proof marks, applied way after the rifle was made. They appear to be Italian ones which would tie in with your history of the piece.

That seems to have answered the question, thank you.

CM is the year proofed 2014.

The coat of arms is for the Gardone Val Trompia proof house

And the CIP N
Commission Internationale Permanente pour l'Epreuve des Armes à Feu Portatives ("Permanent International Commission for the Proof of Small Arms" – commonly abbreviated as C.I.P.) is an international organization which sets standards for safety testing of firearms

 

[Andy RV]

It should have Long Branch on the side of the action.

Here’s some info on the Italian surplus rifles, I also have one of their No 4’s.

ENFIELD RIFLES FROM ITALIAN NAVY

 

[enfieldspares]

So why would the Italian Navy find any sort of use for rifles chambered in .303? Seems odd? Maybe not!

The Italian 7.7x56R machine gun cartridge is, in fact, their version of the .303 Mk VII "British" from when the nascent Italian Air Force were armed, some 'planes, with Vickers and/or Lewis machine guns.

Thus our .303 "British" became for the Italian Air Force their 7.7x56R.

And I guess (this is speculation by me) that this meant these rifles could then use this otherwise obsolete domestic ammunition after WWII as someone no doubt on one side of the Atlantic or the other made the connection between these Canadian rifles in .303 "British" and Italian 7.7x56R ammunition being usable in them?

Ansaldo A.1 Balilla - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Ansaldo SVA - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Later it would be used in some Italian Breda machine guns.

Cartridge, Ball, 7.7x56R | National Air and Space Museum

airandspace.si.edu

Breda-SAFAT machine gun - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Apthorpe]

So why would the Italian Navy find any sort of use for rifles chambered in .303? Seems odd? Maybe not!

The Italian 7.7x56R machine gun cartridge is, in fact, their version of the .303 Mk VII "British" from when the nascent Italian Air Force were armed, some 'planes, with Vickers and/or Lewis machine guns.

Thus our .303 "British" became for the Italian Air Force their 7.7x56R.

And I guess (this is speculation by me) that this meant these rifles could then use this otherwise obsolete domestic ammunition after WWII as someone no doubt on one side of the Atlantic or the other made the connection between these Canadian rifles in .303 "British" and Italian 7.7x56R ammunition being usable in them?

Ansaldo A.1 Balilla - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Ansaldo SVA - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Later it would be used in some Italian Breda machine guns.

Cartridge, Ball, 7.7x56R | National Air and Space Museum

airandspace.si.edu

Breda-SAFAT machine gun - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

We'd probably have sent them ammo too. We must have been up to our ears in the stuff.

 

[Vince1968]

My 303 No4 mk1 * Long Branch 1945