Cartouche / Stamp ?

A Little Help Please: I have a Mossberg .22 Rifle Mod 42M-B, Ser #193xx. Can anyone tell my what the upward pointing Arrow Stamps on both sides of the butt stock mean? I think it's called a "Broad Arrow", but what does it signify on this Rifle? Also, on the right side of the butt stock, it has what appears to be a Cartouche of two-inch letters as follows: " 1 S A L ". The letters are faintly stamped in the wood, and are in the outline style as opposed to solid letters. ??? Thanks for any help with this.

ShootLow77, Fayette County, WV

Any chance of some pictures???

These were rifles used by the Canadian government for training purposes. Thus the government stamps.

Thanks Buccaneer, and Thanks Jim for your response. I hope the attached photos are good enough. Please forgive me for not providing them with my first message. Can you explain what the upward-pointing arrow signifies, as seen on both sides of the butt stock? Can you see enough of the faint stamps ( 1 S A L )on the right side of the butt stock to figure out what it might mean? One stamp on the right side of the receiver is "BNP WITH CROWN". The stamps on the right side of the barrel, just forward of the receiver, are "BNP WITH CROWN", ".22 LR .610"", "8 TON'S PFR THEN AN INVERTED SQUARED U-SHAPED CHARACTER ", and "GXB WITH "2" UNDER THE X". Sorry for the poor discription, but it's beginning to make my brain ache! The drill & tap job on top of the barrel looks to be original. The Rifle works well, and is a pleasure to shoot. I will much appreciate any info you might provide.

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ShootLow77

Those aren't Canadian proofs. This gun was in England at one time. Thus the BNP. They all had to be proofed before they left the country when sold.

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Originally Posted by Sonny B

Can you explain what the upward-pointing arrow signifies, as seen on both sides of the butt stock? Can you see enough of the faint stamps ( 1 S A L )on the right side of the butt stock to figure out what it might mean? One stamp on the right side of the receiver is "BNP WITH CROWN". The stamps on the right side of the barrel, just forward of the receiver, are "BNP WITH CROWN", ".22 LR .610"", "8 TON'S PFR THEN AN INVERTED SQUARED U-SHAPED CHARACTER ", and "GXB WITH "2" UNDER THE X".

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As already pointed out the crown over BNP are British civillian proof marks a legal requirement for any firearm in civillian use in the UK. The 8 TON's PFR are badly stamped, the F should be an E and the upside down U should be a square and it is an abbreviation of 8 TON's per Square inch which is the proof test pressure. As to the marks on the Butt the upward pointing arrow could be the "broad arrow" used to identify British military ownership but I have never seen one reproduced that big before. The "1 S A L" is something of a mystery, I have checked for a "military" connection but can't find one, I have found an S A I for the South African Infantry but thats as close as I could get, could be something that was applied after the rifle was sold out of military srevice.

The British proofs BAR described are post 1954 proofs. If you can read the letters in the crossed scepters that should give an indication when it was released for commercial sale.

I assume that is United States Property on the reciever and barrel with the serial number.
If so it's a Lend-Lease to Britian during WW11. There was 42,000 rifles supplied. Your serial number in the 19,000 range was in the 3rd contract dated 3-27-42.
The British Proofs were installed when the rifle was supplied the civilian use.
Frank

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Originally Posted by MK111

I assume that is United States Property on the reciever and barrel with the serial number.

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I don't see any US proofs anywhere, or mention of them...

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

I don't see any US proofs anywhere, or mention of them...

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In the 4th picture you can read most of the United States on the reciever. Nothing was mentioned about US Proofs.
The rifle is a WW11 Lend-Lease to England. The British Proofs are installed after the British Military turn the rifles over for civilian use. The British Military didn't Proof Military rifles per-say.
Frank

I'M BACK Sorry, but I've been OOC, with no Elect Service, and on & off Water Service, from Friday, June 29, until yesterday. Both continue to come and go. It all started with an extreme wind storm on the 29th, blowing huge trees across most roadways and onto many structures. I was one of the lucky ones, with no physical damage. A week without elect, water, air conditioning, ice, and fuel for vehicles, was pretty tough.

Thanks to all for the GREAT info. I see then that this Rifle has not been to Canada, but was sent to the UK around Mar 1942, and then released by the Mil for Civ use sometime after 1954. The "X" I discribed is actually "Crossed Scepters" with "2" perhaps indicating a date of 1962. "UNITED STATES PROPERTY" with serial number, is stamped on top of the barrel and receiver. The crudely stamped "1 SAL" is still a mystery. I hope I got it all right. The newer looking Mag came with the Rifle, and works great. The price was $50, from a good friend. I found the dull looking Magazine at a local Gun Show, in a pile of "unknowns". The man was asking $10, but gave it to me for $5.00. I cleaned twigs and strings out of it, and it works great. Thanks again everyone. I wonder if the Rifle can handle modern pressures, such as that produced by the CCI Stinger round ( I really like Stingers ).

Sonny B.

You have a very desireable rifle and quit collectable. Valued at 250.00 plus to Military 22 Trainer or Mossberg collectors.
There is quit a following over on the rimfirecentral.com forums under "Mossberg and Military trainers forums"
On the 1st contract of 6-3-41 of 10,000 rifles the cost to the US Government was 10.00 each and Britian only paid .65 cents under the Lend-Lease program. To the best of my knowledge there are no records as to the cost to Britian on the later contracts as we intered the war Dec. 1941.
But your rifle in the 3-27-42 of 20,000 rifles cost the US Government 13.49 each but no record on how much England paid. Maybe the whole price since we were at war.
Don't let the rifle get away from you as they are rather rarely seen. A lot of the rifles were not returned to the US after the war. I hope this information is of help to you.
Frank

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Originally Posted by Sonny B

The "X" I discribed is actually "Crossed Scepters" with "2" perhaps indicating a date of 1962.

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If the 2 is at the bottom of the crossed scepters, that is the number assigned to the inspector of the proofing. The date should indicated by two letters on either side of the scepters.

Hey MK111, You've done your good deed for the day! Thanks for making me aware of rimfirecentral.com. I'm really enjoying perusing the very interesting and valuable posts there. Yes, your post is helpful, as is all the others. I do appreciate you sharing your knowledge and experience. Now that I know my Rifle was worth $1349.00 in 1942, I don't think I'll sell it. Oh....wait....I misread the position of the decimal point. I still think I'll hold on to it until it's worth $THOUSANDS$. I'm really enjoying learning about the Mossberg, and about the enthusiasts, like yourself, who are spreading the word. This site is amazing!

Sonny B.

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Originally Posted by Johnny Peppers

If the 2 is at the bottom of the crossed scepters, that is the number assigned to the inspector of the proofing. The date should indicated by two letters on either side of the scepters.

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Hey Johnny, I hope this photo is sufficient for you to be able to see the Scepters, with "G" on the left, "B" on the right, and "2" at the bottom. Can you tell me what date is indicated? Thanks lots for your help.

Sonny B.