SMLE Barrel inspection stamps

[Homer]

"Don't tell Demo"

I'm right here mate!

[Cold_Zero]

QUOTE=SpikeDD;323214]A single * in front of knox form or in any other area of the barrel indicates rust near that mark. Two ** on knox form indicates moderate pitting of rifling or throat. There is no reference to two ** on barrel in front of knox form..... Skennerton's The Lee Enfield. It may possibly mean badly pitted in the area of those marks?[/QUOTE]


Armourer's Wing Precis Volume II



Attachment 59941Attachment 59942Attachment 59943Attachment 59944Attachment 59945Attachment 59946[

[muffett.2008]

If you have a heavy barrel, then it is definately a Lithgow, these barrels were not produced by any other country.
Heavy barrels were produced from 1932 on, specifically for the Rifle Club Movement, but also were used in the H rifles and were fitted to Service rifles in the last years of the war, the markings on a H barrel will have a large H on the nocks, you may have the letters AJ, AV or VS in close proximetry to the stars.

You have not said if the stars match what I have pictured or if they are the rust * astericks.

[Nailcreek]

Here are some photos of the barrel in question - thoughts?

[Homer]

Muffer I just read your earlier post. All very interesting but barrels dated on assembly? I know its been tossed back and forward over the years but I'm not convinced on that one.

---------- Post added at 01:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:48 PM ----------

Here are some photos of the barrel in question - thoughts?

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...tbp9qvqd-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...awj0btmu-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...hwpmvxob-1.jpg

Yes that's a Lithgow heavy profile barrel.

[Nailcreek]

Would the two stars imply throat erosion?

[muffett.2008]

No, they are Manufacture view marks, the first stamped at completion of the fine bored stage, the second at the completion of the Rifled stage.
There are four such stamps on barrels produced and fitted while the Inspection Branch was under control of F.E Hart from 1915 to 1922. Attachment 60004These extra stamps were due to the use of parallel rifleing and a P in a heart was added to the nocks.Attachment 60011

The first four View marks around the nocks, were added at seperate stages of Manufacture, the Roman Numeral stamped under the star was added by the Inspection branch, to signify that the barrel had completed each phase successfully and was able to be mated to a receiver.Attachment 60010
( This was the responsibility of Manufacturing Inspectors until late 1915 when the Inspection branch was added to the factory.)

The receiver underwent ten such inspections (twenty on early year rifles) before the breeching up phase, after proofing and chamber final finish, the complete rifle is stamped on barrel and nocks with a Lithgow proof, Attachment 60005 and the fifth view mark is stamped by both Manufacture and Inspection branch,(Early rifles may have up to ten such stamps)Attachment 60009 After completion of sighting and final fitment, the completed rifle has a sixth mark added and the barrel, action,bolt, nosecap and forewood are stamped with a serial number and a final Inspection stamp is added to the barrel by the out Inspector.Attachment 60008Attachment 60007

The barrel on rifles up to 1925 were considered to be the main component and the entire rifles history was recorded on both the front of the receiver and barrel nocks.

In the event of a barrel change the barrel was stamped as a replacement, if a receiver, the S/N was struckout and the barrel number stamped on the receiver. This process was reversed after 1925 and the Receiver became the main assembly.
Attachment 60006
So in the event of a barrel or component change post that period, all means of acurately following the history of the firearm became more difficult (not a care to the Military, they were'nt collectors) other stampings on the timber by Units and Military Districts and Factory/Workshop repair stamps and FTR's were added. (just to add to the confusion.)

If the firearm was subjected to work outside the Military stream, than all means of following it's history became rapidly blurred, unstamped and undated or old dated barrels, incorrect bolts and butts and other parts changed

[nzl1a1collector]

Also to add to the confusion will be Steel Batch Marks (SBM).

Its well documented about Lithgow's L1A1 SBM's production. SBM marks were applied to British Production and should also be with Canadian production (although there is very little information about Canadian rifles).

From what I have seen at Lithgow Museum, the ledgers used to record the details for each L1A1 rifle's s/n, steel batch marks, proofing, accuracy, assembly date, shipping date, shipping depot etc would of also applied to earlier weapons (SMLE, Vickers and Bren) produced by them as the 1959 ledgers had to be converted to suit the number of SBM components on a L1A1 rifle.

Has anyone done a study into the SMLE, Vickers or Bren Steel Batch Markings? using the L1A1 SBM as a guide?

[Seaspriter]

Is there a reference available detailing armourer inspection marks? If a barrel has two star stamps in front of the knocks form, is that evidence of an issue?

In addition to the great advice provided by the above posts by the great Milsurps "league of experts," be sure to see:
Lee Enfield Rifle Markings

BTW, thanks to all you contributors for the advice. I just bought a 1918 Lithgow yesterday on GB (Australian Enfield Lithgow SHT.LE MK III 1918 .303 : Bolt Action Rifles at GunBroker.com ) (my first Lithgow) and will be applying your wisdom to this gun too. Thanks for continually reaffirming the old adage: "Sharing Expands, Hording Contracts" in expanding the knowledge about these historic masterpieces.
Robert