Oiler Identification Help

[Alan de Enfield]

I found this oiler stuck in the butt of a Long Lee - it contains a very thick oil /grease that smells slightly 'antiseptic' and whilst probably not original it would be nice to think that it is.

Oiler is 3.75" long
Has a 'rounded' base (it wont stand up)
Is Brass
Has the following markings :

'Crows Foot'- WD 'Arrow'
Crown
G3
A strange looking 'b' ( a bit like the German symbol for 'double S' ie ß)

All surrounded by a 'sunburst' around the markings

I believe it to be a 'mark 3' oiler dated between 18th December 1899 (LOC 10122) and 22nd June 1906 (LOC13470)

Any ideas on manufacturer,date etc ? - thanks in anticipation

Information

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[gsimmons]

The Enfield-Stuff website says its a BSA mark. The G3 is an inspector ID mark. The lower B is actually 13. These markings are on a Mk IV oiler, though. I don't know if that makes a difference.

[Amatikulu]

I believe the stylized "B" is the marking for B.S.A. on the early MLE's - perhaps it's the same for oil bottles.

[Alan de Enfield]

Thanks - thats a good start.

I know its a Mk3 oiler as the Mark 4 had a flat bottom and would stand upright

Had a look at 'Enfield-stuff' and it looks as if you are correct - BSA !!!

Assuming the stylised B is 13, then the 3 has been stamped at a slight angle so that the 'top'of the 3 touches the top of the 1, but there is a gap between the bottom of the 3 and the bottom of the 1

You would have thought they would have had a one-piece number 13 stamp !

[Time Bandit]

I have an Enfield marked (Broad Arrow, EFD, Crown with E over 13) brass oiler with the round, convex bottom. Strange thing about it is that it doesn't have the 'spoon' attached to the lid, I just presumed it had broken off but when I looked I can't see any sign that it actually had one. Did they produce them without spoons or should it of actually had one originally?
I never realised it was a convex one when I bought it at a local militaria fair, wasn't until I tried to stand it up in my display with my others and it wouldn't that I realised upon further investigation it was one of the slightly rarer older MKIII versions which was a nice score as I got it at a cheapo MKIV price!!

[Peter Laidler]

I have a jaundiced view about the rounded bottom to the oil bottle and it's this. Give an oil bottle of that height and diameter, then it WILL be knocked or tipped over. Just as sure as god made little green apples. When that happens, you've got NO oil. But give it a rounded bottom and it CANNOT be knocked over because you cannot stand it up! It means that the user will have to either hold it or put it somewhere where it WILL remain upright and he'll always have oil. Simple!

[Roy]

Its oft said the reason for removing the rounded bottom was so they would stand up, but as Peter says it will naturally want to be on its side. I'd assume the flat bottom is for economy reasons. However isn't whats meant to in those oilers more like grease and wont run out anyway. I put gun oil in one and what a mess it made as those leather washers are certainly not oil proof. The German oiler I think is for oil, it has a spring loaded ball tip nozzle.