Just won this one, picked it up yesterday. Started out as a 1911 RSAF Enfield, looks like it went on to spend some time in South Africa and India.
Would love to know what 'BG & ANS.' is on the brass disc.
More pics later!
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Just won this one, picked it up yesterday. Started out as a 1911 RSAF Enfield, looks like it went on to spend some time in South Africa and India.
Would love to know what 'BG & ANS.' is on the brass disc.
More pics later!
Congrats, that is truly beautiful!
Barrel markings.
I was unable to locate that marking the current edition of the "Broad Arrow." It has plenty of SA ownership stamps, and a quick internet seacrh turned up a page on South African Air Force history.
Here's the link:
https://www.defenceweb.co.za/wp-cont...-squadrons.pdf
And from page 16:
"In August 1946 the Air Gunnery and Navigation School was redesignated Bombing,
Gunnery & Air Navigational School (B.G. & A.N.S.) and moved to AFS
Langebaanweg to train pilots in navigational skills. The unit was redesignated Air
Operational Training School in early 1950 after it was decided that the previous
name did not represent the function of the unit adequately."
I think this above info, along with the South African ownership marking on your rifle, nails down that stock-disc marking. As to rifle ownership, it also has Indian ownership and proof stamps, so it's a guess as to which nation last owned it until it was suprlussed.
It was rebarrelled with a SA berrel in SA in Feb 1965, my guess it was in India first and then SA
I think you are on the money there, thanks very much!Quote:
Originally Posted by smle addict