Transit chest info

[derekr]

Does any one have any ideas as to the markings and labels on my No4T transit chest. It has been re painted at some point and you can still just see the original outline of the lettering painted on the front of the chest.
Thanks, Derek

Information

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[Peter Laidler]

7 Battalion, Duke of Wellingtons Regiment (now diabanded) was the TA Battalion of that Regiment - also now disbanded and part of The Yorkshire Regiment. Are these the letters you say you canm just see on the front of your chest - or are there some others? They are pretty clear to me unless there are some others but you'll have to indicate them

[derekr]

Thanks Peter It says "chest sa No15 mk1" just visible under the paint and below what could be some other numbering. There are no other visible markings on the front. Would it be worth trying to expose the original markings or just leave as is?

[Peter Laidler]

The marking underneath that might be worth looking for by stripping some paint away. Maybe someone can suggest a chemical that will strip away a layer at a time for you. Mine says 1959 followed by a WD arrow under the CHEST etc. On the front/right side is painted the B1/BA-8665 which is the B1- bolt action rifle BA 8665 GA the general assembly number of the No4T rifle as a complete equipment. As you can see from the transit label, the old MoS B1/BA number was replaced on the 60's by the B1/1005-99-961- number

As a matter of interest, do you know any more of its history or how long you/the previous owner had had it? I ask because during the early 70,s the MoD did a trawl of all the UK Police forces to see who had No4T's because the Army were short of sufficient to convert into L42's so they took them back and told them that they weren't snipers and promised to give them a marksmans rifle (later this became the Enforcer.....). The TV3 number COULD be one of those taken back from Police Forces (Thames Valley TV Police). I have to say that those taken back were in poor neglected condition................. So much for Police Snipers. Worth bearing that in mind whenever you hear the term 'police snipers'.

If you weren't trained at Hythe or Brecon/Warminster, then good shot, maybe. But sniper - NO!

Sorry to ramble on a bit but if it's just a load of more useless info, just ignore it

[derekr]

I picked the rifle up at the begining of the year from a local gun shop. All I know is that was owned by a "collector" for a long period of time. The rifle has matching reciever, bolt and scope mount. The original scope number on the stock has been Xed out and a new number stamped to match the Mk1 scope it came with. Acording to the guys at Fultons, the forend has been replaced with one made by Longbranch and has been numbered to the rifle. Overall it is very good condition and doesn't apear to have had much use. It's dated 1945 and I now have a mk3 scope for it that will get it's first outing at Longmoor tomorrow. Again although it needed a little work to get a few problems sorted out it is in as good a condition as any I have seen. I think they have probably been admired and looked after more than they have been used. Fultons also checed it out for me and did a "full military bed" on the action and some trigger work for me.

As the front of the chest has no markings it would be interesting to if I can expose the original numbering. I guess the chances of any numbers matching the rifle are slim. However, if there are any it might be possible to match it to another rifle. I will also contact the regimental museum and see if they would have any access to their armourers records. Again a bit of a long shot but you never know.
PS my father in law was a major and was posted to Bordon camp in the mid 70's. His name was Arthur Chisnall. I believe you may have been there at about the same time.

[muffett.2008]

Hey Pete, happy Anniversary.
(or have you forgotten?)