Lee Enfield Stampings

[RobSmith]

My understanding is that all of those surplussed by/in the UK got the standard "England, 18.5 tons, 2.22" Over the breech, presumably after they went thru a civilian proof house ... Please do correct me if I'm out to lunch here. Every Enfield I've ever handled (Except the Australian ones) have such markings.

Are you sure about that Rob............... I saw thousands set aside for UK MoD disposal and they weren't marked in any way. Maybe ENGLAND is a US Import mark perhaps

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[jrhead75]

They did not. There are plenty of surplussed British weapons out there with the proof markings sans "England". BTW...I've got an Aussie rifle with "Australia" stamped on it. There are no British laws pertaining to marking country of origin on commercially proofed firearms, whereas such markings have been part of US import law since the early 20th century.

[Alan de Enfield]

My understanding is that all of those surplussed by/in the UK got the standard "England, 18.5 tons, 2.22" Over the breech, presumably after they went thru a civilian proof house ... Please do correct me if I'm out to lunch here. Every Enfield I've ever handled (Except the Australian ones) have such markings.

The 18.5 tons, 2.222" and BNP are UK Civilian proof markings that show it was at some time in Uk civilian hands prior to making its way to the USA.
The England stamp was nothing to do with England / UK exporting the rifle - it was a US requirement for importation to show country of origin.

The England marking could be applied by a contractor (in the UK) commissioned by the US buyer, it was NOT applied by the UK Government - or it could be applied at the point of importation (maybe in a bonded warehouse) by the US buyer.

[boltaction]

The 18.5 tons, 2.222" and BNP are UK Civilian proof markings that show it was at some time in Uk civilian hands prior to making its way to the USA.
The England stamp was nothing to do with England / UK exporting the rifle - it was a US requirement for importation to show country of origin.

The England marking could be applied by a contractor (in the UK) commissioned by the US buyer, it was NOT applied by the UK Government - or it could be applied at the point of importation (maybe in a bonded warehouse) by the US buyer.

So, was the England stamp ever applied for Canadian purposes? I'm wondering because a number of the Long Branch sniper rifles have "England" stamped on them, but they were not brought in via the US to my knowledge. Or, was it a case of them being stamped over in England on behalf of a North American importer before coming over here?

Thx

Ed