Make: Royal Ordnance Factory Maltby (ROF M)

Model: Enfield No.4 Mk 1*

Serial Number: BT10066 / BT10067

Year of Manufacture: 1944

Caliber: .303 British

Action Type: Bolt action, detachable 10 round magazine

Markings: Both are marked with a four digit inventory number and, “NO4.Mk.1*” on the left side of the receiver. The stock collars are marked, “M.1944” with their respective serial numbers. The bolts are matched to the receivers. There are various station marks throughout both rifles. Both rifles have a “PP” proof. There is an import mark on the bottom of both barrels.

Barrel Length: 25”

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade post dovetailed into a base set between two protective ears. The rear sight is an aperture sight when flipped down, and an adjustable aperture ladder when flipped up.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The four piece wood stock has a straight grip with finger groove, nose cap, two barrel bands, two sling loops, and a brass buttplate with a hinged door for storage. The top handguards are ribbed. Both rifles have light to moderate handling wear throughout. There are no cracks, but there are some small chips. The LOP measures 13.1” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. Overall both stocks rates in about Good to Very Good overall condition.

Magazine Quantity & Condition: 1x 10rd reproduction magazine per rifle. (Repro magazines are standard on French resistance rifles.)

Type of Finish: Black gun paint & oil darkened metal

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: Both bores are bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore but there is some light fouling. In this writer's opinion, this bores rate 9/10.

Overall Condition: Both rifles retain about 90% of their metal finish. There is light wear scuffs and scratches throughout the metal surfaces. There is wear to the black paint throughout. There are some spots of patina. The screw heads show light use. The markings are crisp. Overall, this rifle rates in about Very Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: 2 x magazines, 2 x original canvas slings.

Our Assessment: This matched pair of British Enfield No.4 Mk 1* rifles—bearing sequential serial numbers BT10066 and BT10067—offers collectors a rare and compelling opportunity to own two rifles not only manufactured together at the Royal Ordnance Factory Maltby in 1944, but also carrying unique post-war provenance tied to the French Resistance and post-liberation armament efforts. These rifles exhibit classic wartime features and were likely part of the large stocks of British arms supplied to resistance fighters and provisional forces in France and Belgium through clandestine supply routes, then later reissued during post-war reconstruction. The presence of reproduction magazines, French-style black gun paint, and the ribbed top handguards all point to well-documented features found on rifles used by the French internal security services and Gendarmerie following WWII. Both rifles are in very good condition, retaining about 90% of their original black-painted wartime finish with scattered patina and wear consistent with military use. The bolts are matching to the receivers, and each rifle is fitted with correct four-piece wood stocks showing honest service wear, small chips, and typical oil darkening. Mechanically, both actions function correctly and lock up cleanly. Import marks on the barrels confirm their return from overseas, while clear “PP” proofs and matching 1944 Maltby receiver stamps solidify their wartime origin. Most impressively, both rifles boast exceptionally bright bores with sharp rifling, each rating a 9/10—well above average for military Enfields of this age.

For collectors of British military rifles or those focused on French Resistance or Cold War postwar arsenal history, this consecutively numbered pair is an uncommon and historically rich find. Sequential Enfield rifles are scarce on their own, and paired with this degree of originality, wartime provenance, and postwar usage context, these two rifles present as centerpiece additions to any WWII or allied small arms collection. Whether admired for their mechanical craftsmanship, field service, or wartime legacy, these Maltby No.4 Mk 1*s stand as exceptional survivors of one of the most significant periods in modern history.