Butt disks

[blitzkrieg]

Hi all,
I was wondering if anyone could tell me when butt disks were used on a mk1 butt.
I have what I believe is an early butt on an early mk1 lower reciever(butt slide), all the metal work has BSA piled arms markings and there are no butt slices added, however there are is also no provision for a butt disk.
I thought butt disks were an early feature?
At the time of the phoney war/dunkirk should it have a butt disk?
Many thanks!

Information

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[Peter Laidler]

Butt marking discs were one of the first casualties. I think that they were withdrawn from production early BUT official notification was only released in about Aug '40. But feel free to correct me. It's always worth remembering that the butt retained the same VAOS/Ordnance part number whether it had a disc or not and the disc/recessed type butt was only ever obsolescent and not obsolete. So continued to be issued and used until WSE - or when stocks exhausted. And even then, disc type butts were issued with the hole filled with a wooden plug.

The first Instructions for Armourers illustrated pull-out sheet type parts list shows the marking disc and screw but the next issue just shows a blank gap/square where it was deleted.

You might/could have an early butt slide with a butt as late as ............ well, when ever the stocks of Mk1 butt assemblies were exhausted from Ordnance.

[Brit plumber]

As far as I'm aware, the 1937 and early 1938 guns didn't have a butt disk but the late 38, 39 and up to mid 40 guns did. I think Kev G has more accurate dates.

[Peter Laidler]

It does seem strange that they EVER had marking discs because according to the equipment regs of the time, the marking disc was already obsolescent anyway!

[tankhunter]

It does seem strange that they EVER had marking discs because according to the equipment regs of the time, the marking disc was already obsolescent anyway!

In a Wartime situation. Just think of all the brass they would save from Rifles & MG's, Omitting the marker discs. More towards making Brass cart cases, Fuse heads etc. Etc Etc. Even today with the price of Brass, Mortar & Shell head fuses are now made from alloys!...........

[blitzkrieg]

Many thanks for your replies guys!

[Peter Laidler]

Later on, butt marling discs were replaced with steel but I could never find a list of changes point for this. Not that I looked very hard and the old LoC's we had were a bit tatty and ripped so maybe I missed it