1911 BSA MkIII

[Peter Laidler]

Has anyone deciphered the markings on 5th Batts SMLE? I ask because we have a Lanchester with similar undecipherable markings.

Any ideas from your neck of the woods 5th Batt

Information

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[Thunderbox]

Doesn't "RANB Victoria" stand for "Royal Australian Naval Brigade", which was the predecessor to RANR (change of name c.1920)?

The mark appears on quite a few Enfields, some of them with cancelled Army ownership marks.

[Bindi2]

Peter i suggest a copy of The Broad Arrow by I D Skennerton. Thunderbox is on the money
Only colonial i know.

[5thBatt]

Has anyone deciphered the markings on 5th Batts SMLE? I ask because we have a Lanchester with similar undecipherable markings.

Any ideas from your neck of the woods 5th Batt

Peter, i see your Q has already been answered.
The roundel stamped into the butt has NAVEL on top with VIC in the middle, the bottom is unreadable.
Here's another RANB VICTORIA stamp, this one on my 1917 Lithgow.

[S-A-M3]

Hi Stuart,
Great photos of your amazing early Smle`s, especially like that Lithgow! Not going
to be able to make the auction in Fielding this year. Keep up the good work.
Regards Stu.

[5thBatt]

Hi Stuart,
Great photos of your amazing early Smle`s, especially like that Lithgow! Not going
to be able to make the auction in Fielding this year. Keep up the good work.
Regards Stu.

Been a very good year for me, found some good quality rifles, hows yours been?

[jona]

Friend of mine was in the SBS during WW II. They did have Lanchesters, but did not like them, they were too heavy.

[S-A-M3]

Had a bit of a P14 fetish going[11], finally got some with good barrels, been doing bolt action service rifle shoots up this part of the country with, believe it or not a K98, `cos there is lots of cheap
ammo about! Also spent too much time sorting out an M305 to shoot in semi classes[got big hate for Gay 15`s] Any spare time that is left I have been making No1 Mk1 stocks, so can`t complain.
Trying hard not to buy anymore Enfields, but doesn`t work.
Regards Stuart.

[Jollygreenslugg]

My 1912 BSA is about 18000 rifles after yours, and is nowhere near as tidy. Mind you, for $150 AUD, and with all matching and original numbered parts, I'm happy.

Mine has the NSW RANR stamp on the butt as shown;



Any info on this stamp would be most welcome. It has the sold out of service marks which have been cancelled;



The pre-WW1 SMLEs are a favourite of mine. Lovely rifles there.

Cheers,
Matt