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Hello, Long time lurker. I picked up a 1944 BSA No4 T. I started working on cleaning things up before taking a bunch of pictures and found a skull motif on the right side of the butt stock below the check rest. I will try and post a picture. Has anyone ever seen something similar? it does appear to have some age to it.
Thanks Mark
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Are there any other "non-LE" marks on the rifle? The remnants of that mark looks similar to a Nazi "deaths head" symbol. If there are other different marks in the rifle, it would help the true experts on this site to provide you with the info you are seeking. It may be a bad idea to remove that mark.
Death's head was used by many armies including British. Could be applied by civvie owner in last 60 years.
Mark, the skull and crossbones decal appears to go under the cheek piece, is that correct?
If so, it might possibly mean the cheek piece is a later addition.
Can you send the usual photos of the action, scope, top and bottom of the wrist, etc to show the T conversion markings?
Thank You for the feedback, I will try and put up some more pic
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The scope and mount are not original but I would appreciate recommendations on reproduction scopes Thanks again
sorry one more of check rest
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I also got some of this winchester ammo, from what I have been able to find most say its non corrosive is that correct
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Winchester was very poor in quality control their ammunition frequently cause jamming and was banned from use in Aircraft because its not easy to climb out on your Spitfire wing to clear a jammed gun.Quote:
Originally Posted by mackms
Some was so bad it was relegated to Infantry 'practice use only' as on the range they had time to clear any blockages.
Do not expect sparkling performance from it - it will not have improved with age.
Regulations For Army Ordnance Services
Part 7, Pamphlet No. 11
Small Arms Ammunition
(The War Office 24th February 1945)
7) .303-in. Winchester
No Winchester .303-in. ammunition is considered suitable for use in aircraft although Red Label ammunition from Lot 45 of 1941 onwards may be used in emergency. Packages containing this ammunition should bear the restrictive marking “NOT FOR USE IN AIRCRAFT”, though it is known that some has come forward without this marking. The ammunition is fit for normal ground use unless it bears an additional restrictive marking.
Lots of Winchester .303-in manufactured before Lot 45 of 1941 should be stencilled “FOR PRACTICE IN RIFLES ONLY”.
In WW1 all brands of US manufactured ammunition was so bad that some 50% was kept in stores and relegated to 'Practice Use Only'.
The situation was discussed in parliament and in 1916 due to the quality issues and the fact that by July 2016 the US suppliers were 424,000,000 rounds behind scheduled delivery dates that the Minister for War finally sanctioned the Cancellation of all Contracts for US ammunition on 17th October.
Alan - Thanks enjoy info like this! My options for 303 ammo were limited and really expensive. I'll make sure not to use it in my Spitfire, just kidding if I had a Spitfire I wouldn't give a damn what I shot out of it.
Thanks Mark
Possibly a Lancers Regiment Badge, painted on by its old owner?
Looks a nice Original rifle!
Royal Lancers - Wikipedia
I think a lot of the issues are related to syncronized guns - firing through propellers creates certain issues...
I read an article on that somewhere Lee not sure if it had to do with ignition times, hang fires or just p*ss poor quality control wish I could remember the site but going a bit daft of late.
I have some ball H/S 303 British WRA ammo here where the primers are staked which was purportedly to stop the primers backing out causing issues when they were used in MG's used in aircraft
Quote:
Originally Posted by CINDERS
I read that is was dimensional inconsistency which meant they jammed in the chamber and even the 'system' that was supposed to clear it (don't know how that worked) was unable to get the cartridge out of the chamber.
The investigation teams found that a high quantity of the aircraft shot down (at the time) had their guns jammed 'with one up the spout', and all had the Winchester ammunition. It was then decreed that the Win must not be used in aircraft.
I never read that it was a timing / synchronisation problem - were the wing guns on the fighters outside the arc of the prop anyway ?
What is the last digit of the scope number?Quote:
Originally Posted by mackms
If original, and three or four digit as it appears to be, I find it interesting that a Mk.I scope probably made in mid-1942 was fitted to a No.4. perhaps as much as two years later! However, that would fit with what I've hypothesized before about production of No.4(T)s actually being as little as a quarter of the rate previously reported.
If there is no fourth digit, then I presume the original fitting must have been a Mk2/1 scope from U.I.C.?
Is the rifle serial number stamped on the "tongue" of the butt?
Is there a U.I.C. Mk.2/1 scope in the house, serial number 321 ? :D
Did you ever pull the buttstock off Mackms to see if this butt is serialed to the rifle?
And if you want to post a close up of the scope number on the wrist of the butt, then we can probably say conclusively whether your rifle had a Mk.2/1 scope originally, or just a regular Mk.I.