Navy issue No.4 MKI T

[ickmann]

Would like to ask the same and if anyone has a pic or two of the correct location for the Navy "N" stamp, it would be greatly appreciated.

Ian

[Peter Laidler]

\there is nothing in the Naval BR's (the equivalent of the Army EMER's and Air Force AP's) anywhere relating to the No1 or No4 rifle that says that they are, were or will be marked with any letter to show that they were Naval issue. Unless anyone out there has a more up to date set!. In fact the Royal Marines work to Army EMER's.

There is one small variation to this (and this is second hand this afternoon and I haven't ever seen it.......) it goes on to say that for ships at sea where arms may be pooled (presumably for operational reasons/boarding parties/shore patrols I am guessing....) arms may be identified by the vessel number on the forestock.

[Simon]

Excellent Pic Terry,

Anyone notice the two P14,s ( N03 Mk1* (T) ) one on the deck and one with Marine Horan.

At the risk of appearing a tad anal about it the two P14's are No3 MkI*(T)A being the Alex Martin produced weapons as as oppose to the No3 MkI*(T) which were the PP Co / BSA weapons. The addition of the A suffix was said to denote "Aldis", however I've observed rifles with Aldis pattern III, pattern IV, Watts and Periscopic Prism Co scopes mounted on them.

Cheers,

Simon.

[Peter Laidler]

Don't worry Simon, I don't think that you're being anal!

Really good photo though!

[Terrylee]

Attachment 31644

Here is a photo of an "N" marked on a S.M.L.E. Mk. IV. It is not associated with any serial number. If the Navy did not mark their rifles in any way, I wonder what it represents?

[Simon]

Don't worry Simon, I don't think that you're being anal!

Really good photo though!

Thanks Peter,

Have to agree it really is a great picture and I'd love to see some of the others if Terrylee will oblige?

I notice Lt Col Armstrong seated in the front row, he of "Fieldcraft Sniping and Intelligence" fame.

Cheers,

Simon.

[Peter Laidler]

Glad you mentioned that TL. I should have mentioned that I was trawling through an old 1949 Navy BR for Armourers and maintainers. That's why I asked if anyone had a more up to date version. Maybe they did mark them many many moons ago but there is no reference to any special identifying markings as there is in the EMER's or RAF AP's.

I worked on a good few Navy weapons including Lanchesters, Brens and No4's (not hundreds I must confess, but certainly plenty.....) at the big Base workshops where we had the only true rustproofing facilities and I never saw a N mark on one. They did have plenty of No2 rifles but they never came through us. THat's a thought........... anyone out there with an 'N' marked Lanchester?

The fact is that the serial number N-3xxxx is a 1944 block and in any case, by 1944, all BSA rifles were prefixed

Only my 2p's worth of course. But BRILLIANT photo......... I am a big believer in the phrase 'one picture describes a thousand words'. But some pictures describe TWO thousand words

[Terrylee]

Attachment 31654

Simon, I'm interested to see that you have a copy of Fieldcraft, Sniping and Intelligence by Nevil Armstrong. He was a personal friend of my father's and my mother took several of the book's photographs. He gave her a copy in appreciation and I attach what he wrote in it.

I have several more group photos taken at the R.M.S.A.S. and shall scan them for you. Unfortunately, the two of trainee snipers are largely a repetition of that already posted. The rifles are the same, the instructors are the same and its only the marines that differ!

[Simon]

Attachment 31654

Simon, I'm interested to see that you have a copy of Fieldcraft, Sniping and Intelligence by Nevil Armstrong. He was a personal friend of my father's and my mother took several of the book's photographs. He gave her a copy in appreciation and I attach what he wrote in it.

I have several more group photos taken at the R.M.S.A.S. and shall scan them for you. Unfortunately, the two of trainee snipers are largely a repetition of that already posted. The rifles are the same, the instructors are the same and its only the marines that differ!

An Excellent piece of Sniping history, thanks for posting it. I particularly like what I assume was a tongue in cheek comment regarding a "2nd Great War"

Cheers,

Simon.

[Peter Laidler]

I think that we've got reference to the same man in the Small Arms School library. I'll look out for it