BSA No. 4 Mk I (Shirley M47C) .303 British Bolt-Action Rifle, 25.2 in Barrel, 1943 WWII, CAI Import
Wartime-produced at BSA’s Shirley plant (M47C) in 1943, this No. 4 Mk I is a United Kingdom–made .303 British service rifle with key No.4 features and verified markings. It retains a wartime-pattern rear aperture sight, spigot bayonet boss, and charger bridge, and carries Century Arms import stamps. The rifle includes a 10-round detachable magazine and shows distinct assembly and inspection stampings noted below.
Condition
Overall Condition: Fair condition, showing extensive signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Condition: Fair - Generally clean, some residue or smudges, slight corrosion.
Bore Rifling: Fair Rifling - Worn rifling, slight loss of definition.
Specific Condition Notes: The metal and wood surfaces show widespread blemishing and scratching. The wood stock and fore-end are damaged in several areas, and a section of the stock was cut and reattached. Cosmoline buildup remains present. There is widespread rust and pitting. The rifling remains defined but shows numerous blemishes.
What’s Included
- 1x 10rd Lee–Enfield No.4 pattern steel detachable box magazine (visible deformation at feed lips)
BSA’s Shirley factory code M47C on a 1943 receiver marks this rifle as wartime production, with No. 4 Mk I model designation on the receiver. The rifle was imported by Century Arms and is stamped “.303 BRIT No4 Mk1” at the muzzle, with a CAI import mark confirming its import history.
The rifle is configured with a rear aperture sight; the front sight block with protective ears is present, but the removable front sight blade is absent. Its 25.2 in barrel is the standard length for No.4 rifles, and the muzzle retains the No.4 spigot bayonet boss for the pattern bayonet interface.
The hardwood stock features a full-length fore-end and upper handguard, finished in oil. Hardware includes sling swivels and a brass buttplate with trap. The action uses a left-side flag safety and feeds from a 10-round detachable box magazine.
Correct No.4 mechanical and assembly features are present, including the charger bridge for stripper clips and a bolt head size 0. Notable small parts markings include a nose cap/front band stamped “N79” and a rear sight leaf marked with a small “B.” The bolt is non-matching.
This rifle is chambered in .303 British and retains the typical No.4 configuration that collectors look for from British WWII service rifles made at BSA Shirley. The included No.4 pattern magazine is correct for the platform.