Markings

[Peter Laidler]

On the subject of markings, please be advised that the small letter W within a crown is not Dutch (Willhemina) or Weedon but ROF WOOLWICH.

Not found on Lee Enfields but can be found on lots (but not all) of the lend lease stores/weapons as they were inspected there prior to issue

Don't forget NOT Weedon as some of you seem to think, or Dutch Army, but WOOLWICH

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Thunderbox]

What about the "W in a star" that is commonly found on No4 knox form or the small of the butt? Do you happen to know what that signifies?

[Badger]

What about the "W in a star" that is commonly found on No4 knox form or the small of the butt? Do you happen to know what that signifies?

Check the England - Knowledge Library for an example of a 1944 Enfield No.4 Mk1(T) Sniper Rifle (click here)
(Mfg by BSA Shirley - M47c) c/w matching Model No.32 Mk.3 Scope (Mfg by Taylor-Hobson & Co.)

(Click PIC to Enlarge)


As noted in the Comments section of that MKL entry above, keep in mind that even genuine No.4(T)'s may have undergone some factory repairs, therefore they may not exactly match descriptions. A good example is a rifle that went through one of the W.R.S. (Weedon Repair Standard) sub-contractors. Referring to Ian Skennerton's book "The Broad Arrow", a rifle having undergone W.R.S. repairs, may be identified by a six (6) pointed star stamped into the wood, with a letter stamped underneath it indicating the specific sub-contractor who did the work. For example, the pics of the MKL entry above show a different (not the one in photo pictorial) 1944 M47c (BSA Shirley) No.4 Mk1(T), that has no S51 stamped under the butt, however, the butt itself was changed during a visit to for W.R.S. work to W.W. Greener, as indicated by the six (6) pointed star and the letter V, which was their sub-contractor code letter. Therefore, when this rifle is examined overall, it's obviously a legitimate No.4(T), probably having been returned for repair from service, after having undergone some kind of damage in the field.

(Click PIC to Enlarge)


Regards,
Badger

[Mk VII]

Thompson machine carbine with the usual GEG inspector's mark plus the crowned-W

[No4Mk1(T)]

As noted in the Comments section of that MKL entry above, keep in mind that even genuine No.4(T)'s may have undergone some factory repairs, therefore they may not exactly match descriptions. A good example is a rifle that went through one of the W.R.S. (Weedon Repair Standard) sub-contractors. Referring to Ian Skennerton's book "The Broad Arrow", a rifle having undergone W.R.S. repairs, may be identified by a six (6) pointed star stamped into the wood, with a letter stamped underneath it indicating the specific sub-contractor who did the work. For example, the pics of the MKL entry above show a different (not the one in photo pictorial) 1944 M47c (BSA Shirley) No.4 Mk1(T), that has no S51 stamped under the butt, however, the butt itself was changed during a visit to for W.R.S. work to W.W. Greener, as indicated by the six (6) pointed star and the letter V, which was their sub-contractor code letter. Therefore, when this rifle is examined overall, it's obviously a legitimate No.4(T), probably having been returned for repair from service, after having undergone some kind of damage in the field.
Regards,
Badger

Thanks for posting this Badger. It’s been many moons since I thumbed my copy of "The Broad Arrow" and had forgotten this information was in there. One of my No.4Mk.1(T) rifles has the V and six pointed star stamp but also luckily still has it’s S51 stamp as well. It’s nice to add another piece to the history of my rifle and to know that both Holland & Holland as well as W.W. Greener had their hands on it.

[krinko]

Here's another photo of the five-pointed-star-with-a-"W"-in-it.
The marks in wood I have seen---all two of them---have been on the underside of the wrist and both have the "M C" in close formation with them.

The mark occurs twice on Mk1/2 conversions in my possession, once alone and once in conjunction with the same mark in the receiver ring, as shown by bradtx.
I'm leaning toward India or Pakistan as the source of this annoying mystery at the moment----always blame the Mysterious East, I say.
-----krinko

[Peter Laidler]

Don't recognise it but if it's a six pointed star, could it be Israeli?

[Peter Laidler]

Yep, that's it - ROF Woolwich Out Inspection

[John R.]

Nice M1928.Pity it's a Savage with a horizontal foregrip and not a Colt with a Vertical one though.You don't see many TSMG's with 5 digit serial numbers anymore either.I keep mine lovingly maintained just in case.It's a 6 digit US and A1 overstrike but has "Tommy Gun" along the right hand side of the top of the receiver.I am still looking for a S marked vertical foregrip for it though.
Cheers,
JR

[Peter Laidler]

When my little boy was quite small (at 6'4", he's not little any more) I let him fire off a few magazines from the waist from the first Thompson gun that escaped across the Atlantic to England. He said at the time and still mentions it to this day, that it was the best thing that he'd EVER done. It was a Savage with compensator and vertical grip and very low 5 figure serial number, much much lower than the one shown.

And if your 10 year old says that was the best thing he'd ever done, you know that it was good! Only dads can do this for their sons!