Mystery (to me) No1

Hello.
I recently acquired what appears to be a No1 Mk3. It has the magazine cut-off and volley sights. I'm puzzled by the markings. The wrist is stamped "BSACo" but has no model or year. The receiver and barrel are stamped "Sale Permit" around a GR-type crown. Can anyone tell me about this rifle?

Thanks!
Dave

It's a BSA "Commercial". That is to say one not made for HM Government, thus the lack of Model etc. It should have Crowned BM Proof marks.

How about some pics on this Dave? We'd love to see...

That's a start. The proof is a crown over a "B" over an "A2"
So the rifle was sold commercially? Is this a common find? I've never seen one before.

---------- Post added at 07:56 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:47 AM ----------

I'd like to post some pictures, but I can't seem to get them to upload. I'll keep working on it.

If you just can't...message me and I'll post them for you. One of the mods will likely be along shortly and take you in hand though...

Well I think I got them to attach.

Anyone have an idea what the little "***" inside the trigger guard was added for?

Very nice early commercial No1 MkIII. Might well be pre-WW1, as the "sale permit" marks usually seem to occur on No1 Mk1s and Long Lees.

Also some pics on Jay Currah's Lee Enfield Web Site:

Jay Currah's Lee Enfield Web Site - Commercial Enfields Page

Regards,
Doug

Quote:

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Originally Posted by davecatlow

the little "***" inside the trigger guard

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I believe that's an early version of trigger stop. Very nice old rifle.

That's the viewer's mark, showing it meets the government spec and is not a tricked-up 'National Match' thing. Required for shooting in S.R.(a) matches.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by davecatlow

That's a start. The proof is a crown over a "B" over an "A2".

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I only ever saw that sale permit mark on the little No2 rifles used by School Cadet Forces and local Cadets. No doubt bought off the Government between the wars. And still going strong I expect!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Thunderbox

Very nice early commercial No1 MkIII. Might well be pre-WW1, as the "sale permit" marks usually seem to occur on No1 Mk1s and Long Lees.

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Any chance this would of seen service TB, Officer purchase etc ?

I like it.:thup:

Thanks all! I appreciate the input!

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Originally Posted by Beerhunter

It's a BSA "Commercial". That is to say one not made for HM Government, thus the lack of Model etc. It should have Crowned BM Proof marks.

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Now we find that it is pre-Great War, it will not of course have the Birmingham, Military Proof marks because it pre-dates them.

However this raises other questions about Proof or lack thereof; at least in the pictures that we have seen.