1915 BSA Mk.III* - been through a lot, still going

Thought I'd share this one before she found a new home. A 1915 BSA ShtLE MK.III* with a barrel date of 1918. Although I can only assume that this was a rebarrel during the 1st World War (they wouldn't have had a receiver knocking around at the factory that long without slapping a barrel on??), they used exactly the same font on the new barrel's serial number as on the receiver. All serial numbers match, with the old rear sight blade serial crossed out and a new serial number stamped (done during the rebarrel?). This rifle also has the green paint applied during the 2nd World War, so it has been through at least 2 major conflicts. She is 102 years old, has seen 2 wars, and still shoots. I am lucky to have her, even for a short while.

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Ample time to wear a barrel out, not unusual.

No, not usual. Just interesting. Just a typical Lee Enfield that went to hell and back twice lol. It just amazes me that the actions of these rifles could and did go through so much and stay useable.

Is it known with absolute certainty that a year stamped on the barrel always indicates the year of barrel installation or, alternatively, that bodies might never be originally mated to barrels two or three years apart ? Further, if a rifle is rebarreled should that not warrant a date stamp on the left cheek? The only reason I ask is that I have a 1916 Mk III (ie 1916 on right cheek), built on a Mk I receiver, with E.Rex proofs on barrel and body, perfectly matching fonts, as well as '18 stamped on the barrel.

Ridolpho

My BSA 1909 Mark III dated 1909 also has a matching '09 dated barrel with both the SC and HV stamp too. Bore is really nice but this rifle, like the BSA 1915 posted above , has also seen quite a lot of serviceAttachment 89016Attachment 89017Attachment 89018Attachment 89019Attachment 89020

Different factories ran a different system, but the normal marking for subsequent barrels was an asterick in line, after three astericks the receiver was subjected to a more thorough inspection.
After 1926, in OZ the barrels were stamped with an R followed by the number of the barrel replaced, E.G. R3.