I am very curious if this "C" stamp at the base of the barrel could mean that this rifle was once in the care and ownership of the Dominon of Canada?
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...apossibl-1.jpg
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I am very curious if this "C" stamp at the base of the barrel could mean that this rifle was once in the care and ownership of the Dominon of Canada?
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...apossibl-1.jpg
If it was It would be a /l\ in a C stamp
Page 126 Skennerton "The Broad Arrow" the stamping of C = Calgary ordnance depot Canada
That is interesting because the fore-end was replaced with a new one that has the Canadian markings on it so I am thinking that this rifle was transferred from British to Canadian Service and then sold to the public.Quote:
Originally Posted by CINDERS
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...dforeend-1.jpg
not in this caseQuote:
Originally Posted by corco
Interesting that it looks like it has the chisel mark at the bottom of the re-enforce seen on a few Ts.
Had a discussion with Peter L on that one about index marks he gave a good reply to my question.
Well something interesting has come up... I submitted this rifle to the panel and the panel has a member that was the previous owner to this rifle. He pointed out that there is an Enfield examiners stamp on the fore-end. So I thought I would add it to this post.
So with that info how could a Canadian made fore-end be put on a BSA made (T) and then get the Enfield examiners mark but not have the rifles serial number stamped into it? (scratching head)
Attachment 55964Attachment 55965
The obvious point is that the C you mention aint either the Canadian arrow within a C OR Calgary Ord Depot. To be honest, I have never heard of a Calgary Ord Depot stamp and it certainly didn't feature in our book of markings. On that basis, would the T above the C indicate Totonto - or Taupiri?
Simple answer. in my humble opinion. There usually is a simple answer to things. Bog standard UK made No4, converted to T. Worked hard and had a new replacement fore-end fitted. Fore-end came from Canada during the war and was inspected again by an Enfield examiner before being sent to Ordnance Depot.
We had zillions of Canadian Mk2 Bren butts like that
Could that C in fact be an incomplete stamp like a 5 maybe? It just doesn't look like a C to me.
I agree, I wonder if it is in fact an '0' that has either been poorly stamped/stamped with a damaged punch, or been 'smudged' by something gripping it tight & then rotated (like an attempt to remove the barrel, for example).
ATB
Or the bottom part of a 3?Quote:
Originally Posted by gsimmons
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...439f40bb-1.jpg
Quote:
Originally Posted by mjolnir2
Or maybe the "C" is actually a damaged number "zero" punch? Roger, gsimmons and mjolnir2 make a good point. I did not know there were numbers behind the "T" barrel mark.
And thank you Peter for your very helpful info about the Canadian Bren butstocks. So it makes sense now how the Canadian made but Enfield examiner stamped fore end came to be installed on the rifle. The original fore end was damaged/warped they took a fore end from their inventory, slapped it on the rifle without adding the rifles serial number and sent it out the door. I wish they would have taken the time to properly fit the fore end and add the serial number. :-(
I suppose what we do know is that it was a forend which was put in store after being examined by an enfield examiner. Whether it was changed in service is open to question - those stores could just have easily been sold off and then it was fitted to the rifle in civilian ownership.
It wasn't only Bren butts but Mk5 Sten gun butts and pistol grips too that came over as cut-to-shape blocks. Made from an oily maple type wood that was impossible (?) well...., you could if you were really desperate) patch
I saw a stack of new in the wrapper Canadian made Sten Mk.5 buttstocks at Knob Creek several years ago. I was a bit confused to say the least since Canada didn't build the Mk.5 Sten per say. However, I read somewhere that they made the butts on an RCAF contract for whatever reason. Sure enough, as Peter mentioned above, they were made of maple which is very distinct looking. I should have bought a couple but they were priced pretty high if memory serves and I passed on them.
I know of one around here.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Laidler
Found this in a book called "Out of Nowhere"
"Despite the efforts made to supply them with their own rifle during the fighting in 1944 and 1945 most Canadian snipers used the Enfield made No. 4 (T), as only 1,141 Long Branch sniping rifles were constructed in time, with a further 350 still awaiting assembly by end of hostilities."
-"Out Of Nowhere" Authored by Martin Pegler. Page 235.
ISBN 1 84176 854 5
So the stock was a Canadian field replacement and returned to England after the war in which it got the Enfield examiner stamp.
The "C" is probably a "zero". After looking at many Picts of other T rifles they all have a single digit number at that location.
I believe with the history of the English made rifle being used in Canadian service makes this hypothesized conclusion not beyond reasonable doubt.
Additionally to help prove this hypothesis if there is anyone out there that has a Candadian made forend with an Enfield examiners mark on it please post your info and photo here. I believe that such likelihood would be improbable... But never say never. Such info would prove my hypothesis true or false.
Thanks!
The curves don't match a "C" IMHO. More likely a damaged "0".
The oft-seen "T" is another matter as yet unexplained AFAIK.