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Somebody I correspond with has acquired a very nice 1945 No. 5 manufactured at BSA Shirley.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...6/bsa111-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...6/bsa310-1.jpg
It bears a marking that we just can't identify: 3 dots on the receiver, close to what seems to be an Australian inspection mark.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...6/bsa410-1.jpg
Any ideas as to its signification?
The last two No5s I had, had these punches. I would love to know what they meant myself....
Hardness test?
Definately won't be a hardness test mark. That part ain't hardened!
Does the astericks mean corrosion in the bore or cordware or somthing like that?
My interpretation would be.....the asterix signifies a barrel/chamber defect.
The subsequent inspections were marked with dimples, three marks should have signified the part was still defect and had not improved and should be replaced.
Markings that affected the barrel say, would be be on the barrel because later, another examiner/Armourer/Inspector would judge it to be worthy of replacement. Rusted out No5 barrels - both inside AND out were commonplace. Barrel would be changed but if the defect mark were on the body, then the next bunch of Armourers would be scratching their heads looking for it. At l;east the Z or BLR marks painted onto a butt could be scraped off and weapon sent back into service. But marks punched into the body stayed there and in any case, the only place we were allowed to stamp the body was at the butt socket. Just my practical take on things.
I seem to recall that our crack test mark was a triangle mark and the hardness mark was a diamond that straddled the impact mark or vice verca. But that's going back and testing my memory now....
I think the asterisk is a depot inspection mark, and the three punches are probably re-inspection checks. I reckon the No5 has been in a weapons pool or theatre loan stores somewhere, and each of the three punches is a check when its come back into the pool from a unit.
I think Muffett has it. I recently serviced a No.4Mk.1/2 with a big ugly U/S, (unserviceable?), stamped on the top of the receiver. I'm guessing many of these marks were applied after British service by India and other Armies to whom they were issued. The original bolt also had a big half moon ground out of the top of the handle to clear a telescope in an aftermarket mount at some point because I had to replace the rear sight as well as fit a new bolt. The only thing I found wrong with it was a badly bent and chipped striker. I used a new striker and had to fit a #0 bolt head to bring the headspace back to spec. A plus since it had a #2 in it as original. It fed, functioned and shot a ragged hole on the 25 yard test target so it's good to go now.
So far, I think the suggestion that the punch marks were applied when the weapon was returned to theatre stores is the most likely.
Thanks. If anyone comes up with documentation that would be great! (unlikely though...)
At our huge 40 Base Workshop, we returned literally thousands upon thousands of weapons to the equally huge 220 Base Ordnance Depot at Kranji Point and guess what........? None ever went back with a marking like that, certainly one that wasn't officially sanctioned by the bible.
Mind you, in my own sense of humourous way, they could have been marked like that before I got there and after I left!
Hi, my little contribution on this.
I wrote to Ian Skennerton and here is what he has to say about it:
The crown BNP is export proof (British Nitro Proof) and ENGLAND as the country of origin on the left side.
This would indicate the markings were for export. As the BNP stamp is right beside the 3 dots, they are likely hardness test marks.
I've never seen a No.5 with the '*' rust mark on the top of the breech, so I think it indicates something else.
The Jungle Carbines hardly got into service, so armourer service marks are rarely found on them.
India, Malaya and other S.E. Asian countries had them in service, but yours looks too clean.
And a friend of mine gave me this info:
I believe based on memory. That * means sold out of service. Those 3 marks are just hammer penning marks. M47 is either BSA Shirley or Maltby.
Like I said. Our hardness test mark was a small round indentation that could be almost invisible to the naked eye and just to make sure you knew where iot was, it was surrounded by a small diamond. However, as the breeching up ring wasn't hardened in any case you can eliminate any thoughts along those lines