Is there any doubt with this one?.

[Thunderbox]

I did not know of the "dimple" type proof marks. ..... I have spoken to the proof house a few times and couldn't quite work out their procedures so I wonder if they might occasionally mix the marks on a single proof.

The rifle, or barrelled action, is inspected and then proof fired. At Birmingham, the four pressure-bearing components are then hand-struck with the same punch. They obviously have a range of punches, from sharp to very worn - it depends which one they pick up to do the rifle. The mark should appear the same in each of the four locations, because the same punch is used. The only small variance is when they punch the side of the extractor housing on the bolthead - sometimes the stamp is less distinct because the extractor housing is slightly dished inwards by the force of the blow.

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[jss]

Thanks for that Thunderbox. I have just had a closer look with some of those special close-up spectacles, no sunlight, and it does look like a proper proof stamp on the bolt head, possibly even done with the same punch but as you say less distinct. The misleading center-punch mark on the far left (top in the photo) being just that I think.

Now what!. Should I clean it up or just leave it exactly as is, as my Enfield enthusiast friend says I should.
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