FTR Serial Numbers

[newcastle]

Generally speaking the FTR mark is followed by a date such as FTR(F)55 or B/54 followed by the serial number. Fazakerley didn't change the vserial numbers because they were all FTR'd for the Government/MoS whereas those from the commercial BSA did re-start - but not always. For instance, if they were sent to BSA by, say, Nigeria (a BIG BSA customer) then they'g go in as heaps of tat and come out as fully FTR'd, same numbers heaps of tat

I just mentioned in a thread a week ago an BSA 1994 No.4 Mk1 which was FTR'd into a Mk1/2 in 1955 at Fazackerly and WAS reserialed with an A 12XX number on receiver, bolt and barrel. Was the serial change because it was effectively classed as a new rifle, having been changed from Mk1 into Mk 1/2?

[Peter Laidler]

Fazakerley didn't re-number rifles unless there was a specific reason, such as a lost or pbliterated number. Then it was numbered with a ZZ prefiz number, allocated by the War Office ort after 1955 or so with the new type that showed all and sundry that it was a re-number, such as SA68A 1234 and so on.

We know BSA renumbered SOME, but not by any means all, of their FTR rifles. But they could do what they liked, because they were an independent contractor. A good example is No4 Mk1/2 53P12345. Made at BSA as P-12345 it's FTR'd in 1935 at ROF6 Fazakerley and emerges as a Mk1/2 but still P-12345

Rifles that were FTR'd were never classified as new rifles. The criteria was that every part that went through the FTR system was gauged against a 'life'. All had to give give a further 80% life. Parts that cound not gauge to give a further 80% life were scrapped. No rifle left the FTR programme or even a Base Workshop with a No3 bolthead either

[Demo]

Yeah sorry about the photo.

Thanks for that. That is interesting because i always thought the serial number was the long one and the FTR serial number was the short 1.

If a rifle has been FTR'd, do they always have a stamp to show it?

Sorry about all the questions

Rifles FTR'd at Lithgow during the 50's were stamped FTR on the top of the action and MA and a date on the lower left side of the butt socket. Rifles refurbed during the late 40's or post war were only stamped R over MA and a date on the butt to my knowledge. There may be exceptions.

[pedro243]

Thanks Demo

Since the barrel is dated '45, im guessing it would have had the R/MA on the butt. When i bought the rifle however, i paid extra to get the wood changed to the real nice wood it has on now, so i don't know what stamps it had on the wood. I didn't even look because i wanted a good shooter, not a collector item. I have only become interest in its history since.

Also the barrel doesn't have a serial number stamped on it so that rules out the possibility of someone changing it since, but it does have the 'sold out of service' stamp like the action.

[IMG][/IMG]

Thanks again for your help everyone