Would anyone out there happen to know what these stamps mean on the underside the buttstock of my No 4T? Thanks!
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Would anyone out there happen to know what these stamps mean on the underside the buttstock of my No 4T? Thanks!
thermo,
I'm new at this but I believe the six pointed star is the Weedon Repair Standard Mark, and the V below is the code letter for W.W.Greener,
the firm which did the repair work.
Hope this helps id part of your marks, Holzhacker
Holzhacker is correct ... :thup:
It's the Weedon marking convention by one of the W.R.S. (Weedon Repair Standard) sub-contractors.
A rifle having undergone W.R.S. repairs may be identified by a six (6) pointed star stamped into the wood, with a letter stamped underneath it indicating the specific sub-contractor who did the work. For example, the pics below show a different 1944 M47c (BSA Shirley) No.4 Mk1(T) in my wife's private collection. The butt itself on her rifle was changed during a visit to for W.R.S. work to W.W. Greener, as indicated by the six (6) pointed star and the letter V, which was their sub-contractor code letter.
http://photos.imageevent.com/badgerd...20_Medium_.JPG(Click PIC to Enlarge)http://photos.imageevent.com/badgerd...20_Medium_.JPG
Regards,
Doug
You also have examiner's stamps, plus the 'SL' stands for 'Sykes Ltd.', the original manufacturer's of the butt.
ATB
Thanks guys for clearing this up. Do you know when it would have gone through the WRS? During the war ? Post War? Thanks!
I have to say that I have never seen this star/V in any official document as indicative of Greeners work as sub contractors to BOD RAOC Weedon. We/the REME Ispectorate had a big restricted book that identified markings, most of which are common knowledge. But I don't recall this as a No4 marking.
Is it definately?
If it IS, then I'd say that it was wartime because after the war, these past Base level repairs (FR) and FTR's all went to the Ordnance factories. After all, we wanted to keep THEM open and moved hell and high water to ensure that they could remain open.
DPL & others. You've made me think now! I have a quantity of new unissued original walnut No4 butts & come to think of it I'm pretty sure many of those made by Sykes bear the star. If my admittedly faulty memory serves me correctly & that's the case (these are all new butts that have never been on a rifle) it would call the explanation into question. I'll have a look later today & post back what I find.
ATB.
Like I say DRP, we had info on all (?) of these identifying marks for technical reasons. For example, where during mixed operations, in say, Africa or Malaya etc etc where equipment was pooled and we needed to know where what came back had been! Never saw Greener except for Navy Lanchesters that came to us from Sembawang Naval Ordnance dump in Singapore..... And these were fully identified. But Greener FR No4's....... Nope!
I just went through about a dozen new butts in my garage & found two SL's that also bear the star & 'V'. They are unused & have never been on a rifle, although where that leaves us I'm not sure....!
ATB
If they are new/unused DRP, then I can point to where it leads us... and to only one answer! And a simple one at that! The star and V are simply SL examiners/inspectors marks.
As soon as I saw Holz's reply I was going to pass comment but decided to hold off
One quick, semi-related question if I may...is the above mentioned 'FR' any relation to the often loudly debated 'FR' marking found on so many LE butts? Or is it something entirely different?Quote:
...these past Base level repairs (FR) and FTR's...
Good question JR. The FR was one of the recognised markings in use among the UK Military but I seldom encountered - in my opinion..... Along with the usual Z, ZF, Y, BER, BLR, Z-UF, etc etc. It was just a factory repair as opposed to a FTR. It is still used today for some specialised small-arms and especially optical stores where the kit goes back to be repaired as opposed to the full-house FTR.
Where it was used was with Sterling SMG's that would go back to Dagenham for new front barrel bearings (the offset muzzle bearing).
Added later: Just been reminded that .30" Brownings used to go back to Enfield for FR (as opposed to a full FTR) for loose barrel trunnion blocks.
Great info! Thanks Peter.