New to me, No. 4 T

Just arrived this weekend, a new to me 1944 BSA with THC Mk III scope. Picked her up for a less than usual price so it was not too hard to convince the wife to let me spend the dollars.

She is all matching and in excellent to mint condition with the exception of the usual stuck adjustment dials. I do not know if THC used a different grease than AKS and CTS but THC seem always to be seized. So Peter be prepared to receive her for a tune up, she is already on the way to Brian's!

Of interest to the collector is the earlyish 1944 s/n, a C block s/n and a later Mk III scope. One could assume she sat around H&H for a half a year or more before being finished. (I have a D block with a mid s/n range HBM Mk II for example)

Also the Rose Bros. scope (lightly stamped JG) has a large "GF" stamped into the mount. This is my second scope mount with the large GF stamp. Any clues out there. Sorry no pic's forgot to take one before shipping the scope out.

You lucky #### ... :yikes:

Congrats... great find Lance ... :super:

Regards,
Badger (Doug)

GF = Gujerat (or Gudjerat) State Forces

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Originally Posted by Peter Laidler

GF = Gujerat (or Gudjerat) State Forces

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Peter ... :)

Does this mean that this rifle and scope were shipped to Gujarat (Pakistan) post war?

Regards,
Badger

Probably left behind when we left India along with pretty-well everything. The Army was split 66:33% and we took 30% of the Gurkhas from India. plus or minus a bit I expect. The old Indian Liaison Officer showed me some photos of his Indian REME workshop at Barelli (?) in the late 70's and they had an old 1940's Austin Gantry recovery vehicle - still in REME markings. Their REME of course but just the same as us! Anyway, I digress.

Is Gujerat in Pakistan? I thought it was in India now because we had a couple of Gujerat and Garwalhi drivers in Malaya. There are a few of those markings. I seem to remember GF, AL and NG amongst others. I have seen NG on a Thompson gun

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Originally Posted by Peter Laidler

Is Gujerat in Pakistan? I thought it was in India now because we had a couple of Gujerat and Garwalhi drivers in Malaya.

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Well, I didn't know myself, so I clicked the wikipedia link Gujarat (click here)) and it says it's a state in Pakistan... :)

Regards,
Badger

Nice rifle Lance. I have her sister , C3776x with an even later serial numbered THC. I suspect you are right about H&H stockpiling rifles and pulling them for conversion at random. I have been conducting a very informal survey of THC fitted No4T’s (all numbers are from publicly posted serial numbers or photos there of) and found that scope and rifle serial numbers do not clime consecutively. In fact they seem to be all over the map. Though a small sample at seven numbers (including yours) the lowest scope serial number I’ve found so far is on my T prefixed 1945. My conclusion was that they used the “Closest to the door” method picking the next rifle(s) for conversion. I suspect they would receive their shipment of rifles which would be put into a store room and begin work on the conversions. A later shipment would come in and be put into the same store room and stacked in front of any rifles that remained from the last shipment(s). Then as more rifles were needed for conversion they would simply walk into said store room and pick the one closest to the door.

That's odd Badger..... we must have a different Wikipedia in England because mine says that Gujerat is the most western state in India! I mean western as in west side of India as opposed to being western orientated. Anyway, the rifle originates from '...over there somewhere!'

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Originally Posted by Peter Laidler

That's odd Badger..... we must have a different Wikipedia in England because mine says that Gujerat is the most western state in India! I mean western as in west side of India as opposed to being western orientated. Anyway, the rifle originates from '...over there somewhere!'

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You're absolutley right Peter ... :thup:

I think I misread it as the Gujrat District (click here), which is apparently in Pakistan whereas Gurjat (click here) is in India. :lol:

Regards,
Badger