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i was looking at a no.1mk3 beech forend, just forward of the middle band there is a stamp
`m47c` (bsa shirley) and next to it the date `1956` is also stamped. i have never seen
these markings on an original no.1mk3 forend before. just wondering, are these authentic
or after market markings? did bsa-shirley make no.1mk3 furniture and if so did they do it
even up to `1956`?? could this be an after market production forend? i am looking for an original one..
Phil.
BSA carried out a series of No1 refurbishments in the 1950s. This included both the rebuilding of rifles and the production of new woodwork in beech. Much of the wood appears to have been sold to overseas governments such as South Africa. The No1 butts they made were designed to be fitted to either No4 or No1 rifles - they have the No1 butt plate fitting (the tang area can be enlarged for a No4 butt plate), yet have the small safety lever notch of a No4 butt (it can be enlarged to fit a No1 safety).
Thus your forend is genuine BSA production.
Interesting coincidence: I bought one of these forends at Beltring in July and tomorrow I'm intending to fit it to a 1942 Ishapore No.1 MkIII* as the one that came with it is in horrible condition.
I was puzzled why BSA was still using a WWII dispersal code marking a decade after the war ended?
Mark
Good reason for that Peregrine........... The Ministry of Supply had a 'last buy' of No1 spares from BSA including fore-ends and handguards in the 50's (looks like it was 1956 then.........) and I'm sure the contract would have specified the manufacturers code or mark to be applied, albeit an old one, it'd still be identifiable and traceable.
We often had new obvious No1 butts come through the Ordnance system by the obvious differences and sometimes the marking disc recess. We just treated them as No4 and likewise, fitted the No1's still sloshing around with No4 butts as and when required