Unit Disc

[Frederick303]

Alan,

Here is a link to the auction:

Enfield B.S.A. #3 caliber .303 British : Bolt Action Rifles at GunBroker.com



So going down the pictures here is what indicates

1) it is a Irish issue rifle

2) the disc has been added:


1) Irish issue:

a) The action body has had the old serial number lined out and new one added, pre 1926 mod. So this work is pre 1926.

b) The new serial number is not the correct font for a BSA or Enfield rebuild from 1920 to 1925, they used a smaller more ornate font. It is the larger plain font used on the rifles re-numbered and supplied to Ireland in the 1921 to 1922 time period. That is the first definitive thing to me.

c) The same font is used on the bolt, which has been filed and remarked. Same is true for the Nosecap. Again a feature seen on Irish rifles.

d) The serial numbers were added by hand and not all that carefully (not a straight line). That is a feature seen on Irish rifles.

e) While of secondary importance, the rifle still has the stacking swivel, the Irish keep these in service till the end of issue. While not definitive, it is consistent with such issue.

f) No pre 1968 English export proofs, nor post 1986 importers markings. The Irish rifles were kind of unique as they did not go through the English proof houses in 1961, and were sent directly from Ireland to Interarms warehouse in Alexandria VA. There were some other lots of SMLE rifles that came in around that time that did not go through the UK, but they lack the features of the Irish rifles. That is the second definitive observation that leads me to believe the rifle is Irish.


2) The unit disc.

Because there was a ready supply of these available in south eastern PA since at least the early 1990s, ( I seem to recall the price was 3 dollars and .50~1 dollar for the screw back then) numerous Billy-Joe-Jim-Bob characters would buy them to fill the missing hole in their rifle, not understanding that the lack of same was a correct feature. As such I have seen a lot of rifles here in southeast PA and northern Delaware when I lived there that had added discs and always took a glass with me to examine the butts to see if the disc was added. I have seen many added ones and this one has that look. Here is what I assert it is added:

A) the lack of any other Indian markings. Typically when you see and Indian marked butt there is some other marking, canceled or not on the butt to indicate Indian issue and inspection.

B) When a unit disc has been installed for a long time and not disturbed, it takes on a certain look of tarnish/verdigris. This disc has some bright areas that look like someone did a wee bit of polish by the 10-36.

c) The gaps in the side of the disc. if you look carefully you can see on the lower side of the picture that there is a gap between the disc and the wood, not filled with old linseed oil and gunk. Almost like some one put the disc in recently........

D) Lastly the disc sits a wee bit proud of the wood on the bottom side, you do not see that generally on the ones that have been installed for 70 years. Further if it had been installed that way, one would expect on the top side there would be some gunk build up on the top of the disc and the bottom side would be the side showing the bright patches.


Of course I could be wrong, but that is my call on the rifle.