Heres another strange one Long Lee

[Barry Bass]

Is there anybody here who can help me identify the C with a cross in the centre, Same is marked on the barrell also a x. Definitely not a Russian capture

Got this and the bayonet as a gift so no feelings hurt if you want to slam it.

Thanks

Barry

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[Barry Bass]

heres a few more of the left side.

Attachment 38685Attachment 38686Attachment 38687

[browningautorifle]

At least you HAVE one...

[Surpmil]

Rumour has it that is some sort of Canadian marking from around the 2nd Boer War.

I think one of our members commented on the serial numbers of Canadian issue Long Lees the other day, so perhaps yours cross-references with those.

Attachment 38688

Attachment 38689

[A square 10]

interesting , ive not seen that before , thanks for posting them

[Barry Bass]

wow thanks, After a long search I have an answer

Barry

[RangeRover]

I'm hardly an expert, and don't have my reference books handy, but I've not seen any similar, cross in a C, markings on Canadian military arms.

Standard markings were DC, often in a diamond (Dominion of Canada) in the buttstock, later replaced by the M&D (Militia and Defence) marks on the buttstock, then the C-broad arrow mark, which wasn't introduced until 1907, but was often stamped in the metalwork as well as the stock.

My own 1896 Enfield MLE Mk 1 (no-star) has only the M&D marking on it.

I'd be interested, though, in finding out more and sources for the suggestion these are Canadian marks.

[Surpmil]

I have no more idea than the next person what the true origins of this mark are, but a few things to bear in mind are that it is so uncommon that it does make one wonder about the Canadian attribution given that there should be a fair number in Canada at least, but there aren't.

It is such a large stamp that it makes me think it was intended to allow rifles to be identified at a glance and even from what one might call a distance.

If it was perhaps something made up locally in South Africa to enable "Canadian" rifles to be identified 'at a glance', it could be that not being properly authorized it was later removed.

Did Canadian troops in South Africa bring their arms back with them, or were they turned in before embarkation?

It does seem to be found on both rifles and carbines.