MKIII* Barrel Markings

G'day there, just another MKIII* here and I have some questions about barrel markings.

Attachment 89472Attachment 89473Attachment 89474Attachment 89475

Ok so starting at picture 1: 'P' and '955'. I have no idea what these mean. Could '955' mean '1955', such as an inspection date or something?
Picture 2: All the crowned markings are government proofs or something? The two lower markings with the arrow above them I assume are manufacturing markings? The '17' is the barrel date? Since the barrel date and receiver date, and barrel number and receiver number also match, then that means this is the original barrel that the rifle came with in 1917?
Picture 3: More government proofs?
Picture 4: Receiver and Barrel match, more government markings? The two 'G's I have no idea about, and the same goes for the '3' above '83370'. '83370' on the receiver, could that be a rack number? It is also marked on the butt-stock. Finally the crown over the 'B' right at the base of the barrel is a government marking?
Final thing that I have not pictured is an arrow with a star at its tip right on top of the barrel; this means there has been rust in the barrel at some point, or on the outside? There is plenty of pitting on the outside of the barrel, but the inside is smooth as anything.

There are probably dozens of more subtle markings on the barrel and around the receiver but I'll leave them out for now. I took pictures and notes of absolutely every tiny marking I could possibly find all over the rifle, so if you think there is a marking that will help with ID then I guarantee I have a picture or at least notes on it.

Bit of a drawn out post, but I hope you have the time to read it. Thanks.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nijalninja

G'day there, just another MKIII* here and I have some questions about barrel markings.

Attachment 89472Attachment 89473Attachment 89474Attachment 89475

Ok so starting at picture 1: 'P' and '955'. I have no idea what these mean. Could '955' mean '1955', such as an inspection date or something?
Picture 2: All the crowned markings are government proofs or something? The two lower markings with the arrow above them I assume are manufacturing markings? The '17' is the barrel date? Since the barrel date and receiver date, and barrel number and receiver number also match, then that means this is the original barrel that the rifle came with in 1917?
Picture 3: More government proofs?
Picture 4: Receiver and Barrel match, more government markings? The two 'G's I have no idea about, and the same goes for the '3' above '83370'. '83370' on the receiver, could that be a rack number? It is also marked on the butt-stock. Finally the crown over the 'B' right at the base of the barrel is a government marking?
Final thing that I have not pictured is an arrow with a star at its tip right on top of the barrel; this means there has been rust in the barrel at some point, or on the outside? There is plenty of pitting on the outside of the barrel, but the inside is smooth as anything.

There are probably dozens of more subtle markings on the barrel and around the receiver but I'll leave them out for now. I took pictures and notes of absolutely every tiny marking I could possibly find all over the rifle, so if you think there is a marking that will help with ID then I guarantee I have a picture or at least notes on it.

Bit of a drawn out post, but I hope you have the time to read it. Thanks.

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3 = 3MD VICTORIA
83370 = INVENTORY NUMBER
G 25989 = serial number of G group.

GR over P Barrel knox form or action body - George V cypher between 1910-1936
P - SMLE, left hand side of knox form - Replacement barrel?
/|\ - Broad Arrow, used from the mid 19th century to distinguish legitimate ordnance surplus stores.
'17 Firearm, on barrel knox form or rib - Production year, especially on replacement barrel.
The others I am sure will be deciphered by more knowledgeable folk I think the crows foot inside the D is sold out of service but I could be wrong on that one normally its an S with apposing arrows any way there is a little bit there.

Bindi2: 3MD Victoria, does MD mean Medical Division or something haha. Also thanks a bunch.

Cinders: What does George V Cyper mean? So it is possible it has a replacement barrel? I thought the year on the barrel was the year it was used, not the year it was manufactured. Sold out of service, I suppose that means it did its work and when it retired they sold it? Thanks too.

MD - Military District
As follows for WWI;
In 1911 the boundaries for the military districts were changed. Although based on states, the new districts did not strictly follow state boundaries:

1 Military District (1MD) – Queensland and the 12th Battalion area, including Casino, Lismore, Grafton, and the Northern Territory.
2 Military District (2MD) – New South Wales (excluding: the 12th Battalion area as above; Broken Hill, Torrowangee and Silverton; and the 44th Battalion area, including Corowa, South Corowa, Mulwala, Moama, Mathoura, and Deniliquin) and the 57th Battalion area of Victoria, including Wodonga, Barnawartha, Chiltern and Tallangatta.
3 Military District (3MD) – Victoria (excluding the 57th Battalion area as above), including the 44th Battalion area as above.
4 Military District (4MD) – South Australia and Broken Hill, Torrowangee, and Silverton in New South Wales.
5 Military District (5MD) – Western Australia.
6 Military District (6MD) – Tasmania.
The territories of Papua and New Guinea were allocated to 1MD after the First World War.

Wow Cinders thanks. So would that 3MD mean it was sold in this military district, or issued in it? Soz for all the questions, but I am very grateful for answers.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nijalninja

Wow Cinders thanks. So would that 3MD mean it was sold in this military district, or issued in it? Soz for all the questions, but I am very grateful for answers.

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Issued

Oh awesome thank you so much. Finally some ideas as to where this rifle at least started.

Without seeing photos of the action. It could be a British rifle returned to Australia as a replacement for the ones Australia sent to the Brits at the beginning of WW1. Photos of the Butt stamps would be a big help as well.

Can do.
Attachment 89480Attachment 89481Attachment 89482

The Butt-disc is blank as well. There are no more markings on the butt-stock apart from some subtle ones under the brass plate.

D/|\D - Department of Defence
HV - sighted for the high velocity ammunition MkVII
The serial is obviously the rack No. as Bindi pointed out
The 9/23 could mean it had a FR - Factory refurbishment I.E the Butt may have been replaced on that date!.
The DP is a bit strange as usually they are in line with each other well at least thats my take on it which stands for Drill Purposes only they normally stamp DP on the reinforce or the knox form with it as well so there can be no mistake the rifle is not to be fired.
Pity the disc is gone as that can be a good clue as to where it may have been.
If I get it wrong I apologize and stand to be duly corrected by the forum
Merry Xmas guys......

9/33 stamp is when it went into stores after a rebuild.
D^D is Australian ownership as is the D
HV shows the sights have been changed to use MK7 ammo.
I can not make out the other stamps on the Butt.
The bolt way are inspector marks.
The rifle was made by BSA in 1917 and is a No1 Mk3*

Sorry Bindi its 1923 Cheers:cheers:

I tossed up on that.:dunno:

955 would be the batch number of the barrels.

Still researching this one.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../2icbe6q-1.jpg
Similar shown on two of mine, both batch 544, BSA and 1910 manufacture,

Thank you very much for that CINDERS, I always thought the 9/23 might have been a designation for to the battalion or so forth to which it was issued. If the DP means it is not to be fired, then why would it have been sold? I know I have put 20+ rounds through it with no issues, and before who knows just how much work it has seen. Also I hope you had a Merry Christmas :).

Bindi, so it has been in public circulation since 1923? I'm surprised it isn't more butchered. Thank you so much for this info, and I hope you had a good Christmas too.

Englishman, I'll remember this one for future rifles ;). Thanks a bunch and a belated Merry Christmas to you too.

Thanks everyone. I'm that much closer to knowing how this rifle lived its life.

The 9/23 is when the rifle went back to military storage after inspection/rebuild ready to be reissued.
There will be no date on the rifle when sold out of service only < > on the Knox form and maybe on the butt

Oh woops, by stores I thought you meant like surplus stores haha. Thanks for clarification.