anywayto find the person who used your military surplus rifle?

Niko911 · 07-16-2008, 09:29 PM

Just wondering if theres anyway i can see who used my .303 enfield, Is there somewhere i can run the serial numbers or anything?

Cyrano · 07-16-2008, 09:44 PM

Seems to me you'll need the help of the Imperial War Museum and the company that made the Enfield, or more likely its successor. Maybe Woolwich Arsenal, which I think is a museum today, would be a starting place.

The serial number will tell you where and when it was manufactured. From that point, you will have to trace it through the arsenal to assignment as part of a lot sent to a regiment. At that point, you will need access to the regimental records and will have to do a LOT of digging. Remember, to the armourers and the sergeants, a rifle was a rifle was a rifle. They were not assigned sequentially. You will have to go through the paper records, most likely, trying to find that serial number.

Once you find the serial number, you'll find the name, rank and possibly the serial number of the soldier to whom the rifle was issued. At that point, you can contact the Minsitry of Defence and perhaps obtain a copy of his service record.

Bear in mind the rifle may well have been issued to more than one soldier, but like as not a soldier of the same regiment. I'm not sure if this makes things simpler or more complicated.

Bottom line: Yes, if you ahve the patience, time and money, you can probably run your rifle's history to earth. But don't hold your breath while you are doing it!

SwedeSteve · 07-17-2008, 02:58 AM

While you are at it...

wunhunglo · 07-17-2008, 03:04 AM

Probably a nightmare to track.
It was not unusual for soldiers to hand their rifles in to the armory for various reasons and then get re-issued with another rifle when they needed it. For any of you who have stood in an Army line for any form of kit issue, you'll understand.

.22guy · 07-17-2008, 03:10 AM

Some K-31's have a troop tag which will (sometimes) allow you to write a letter and figure out one of the owners.

07-16-2008, 09:29 PM	#1
Niko911 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 116 Trader Rating: (0)	anywayto find the person who used your military surplus rifle? Just wondering if theres anyway i can see who used my .303 enfield, Is there somewhere i can run the serial numbers or anything?

07-17-2008, 02:58 AM	#3
SwedeSteve Grumpy Old Fart Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: AnchorTown, Alaska Posts: 9,172 Trader Rating: (0)	While you are at it... __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

07-17-2008, 03:10 AM	#5
.22guy Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 4,071 Trader Rating: (0)	Some K-31's have a troop tag which will (sometimes) allow you to write a letter and figure out one of the owners. __________________ Guns: they are like baseball cards except they are cool and you can kill things with em. -Billy

07-16-2008, 09:44 PM	#2
Cyrano Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: New York Posts: 1,967 Trader Rating: (0)	Seems to me you'll need the help of the Imperial War Museum and the company that made the Enfield, or more likely its successor. Maybe Woolwich Arsenal, which I think is a museum today, would be a starting place. The serial number will tell you where and when it was manufactured. From that point, you will have to trace it through the arsenal to assignment as part of a lot sent to a regiment. At that point, you will need access to the regimental records and will have to do a LOT of digging. Remember, to the armourers and the sergeants, a rifle was a rifle was a rifle. They were not assigned sequentially. You will have to go through the paper records, most likely, trying to find that serial number. Once you find the serial number, you'll find the name, rank and possibly the serial number of the soldier to whom the rifle was issued. At that point, you can contact the Minsitry of Defence and perhaps obtain a copy of his service record. Bear in mind the rifle may well have been issued to more than one soldier, but like as not a soldier of the same regiment. I'm not sure if this makes things simpler or more complicated. Bottom line: Yes, if you ahve the patience, time and money, you can probably run your rifle's history to earth. But don't hold your breath while you are doing it!

07-17-2008, 03:04 AM	#4
wunhunglo Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: currently "Sunny West Africa" Posts: 1,374 Trader Rating: (0)	Probably a nightmare to track. It was not unusual for soldiers to hand their rifles in to the armory for various reasons and then get re-issued with another rifle when they needed it. For any of you who have stood in an Army line for any form of kit issue, you'll understand.