No4Mk1(T) for sale over on CGN

[Terry Hawker]

No4MkIT, Lance and the rest of you gents,

Suppose it doesn't matter now, as it has sold, but thought I would render my two cents worth.

First off, I have to agree with Lance that the markings do look legit. Not that I claim to have the expertise of some of you folks, but, I simply base my opinion, (and that's all it is), on observation of other specimens.

Primarily addressing the issue of fore-end number stamps within a circle, I know Peter has serious doubts about their authenticity, as we have discussed this after I was given a 4 (T) from a departed friend's estate. This rifle, X 33742, also appears to have been stamped with the same type of stamp set with circled numbers, as the rifle that started this thread. Depending on the force of the hammer blow, the circles range from non-existent, to very faint, or quite prominent. Of my five 4 (T)'s, naturally the ex-Trials and Longbranch are marked differently, but, two out of the three BSA's are marked with the same type stamps, the other being serial number M 36933. I have also seen photos of other rifles so marked, the first that comes to mind is on page 45 of David Gordon's, "Weapons of the WWII Tommy". If these aren't legitimate markings, the perpetrator must have been very busy and turned out quite a few of them. It is a bit odd though, that the rest of the rifle is correct. The fact that this occurs, in my case anyway, on two un-issued rifles, casts serious doubt on "the fore-end has been changed" argument.

Dinner is almost ready, so I won't get into the other areas that prove to me this rifle is probably authentic, but, for the interest of those of us with relatively small collections, could you folks with the larger treasure houses please look closely at your fore-end numbers and let us know how many you find with circled, (faintly or otherwise), numbers?

Thanks for your help,

Terry