Date of commercial BSA Lee Enfield.

[Alan de Enfield]

A bit more info on proof marks (including the military BM mark)

Firearm Proof Marks, Arsenal & Inspector Marks

Information

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[Thunderbox]

A bit more info on proof marks (including the military BM mark)

Firearm Proof Marks, Arsenal & Inspector Marks

Even that source does not appear to be precisely accurate. E.g.:

- "BM" was obviously used on the barrel, receiver, bolt and quite often the bolt-head.

- "Crown over R" is likewise clearly not only related to a "black powder to nitro" reproof. It appears on many BSA commercial rifles and appears to indicate a double proof at the time of manufacture - ie civilian marks applied in addition to military proof.

[Beerhunter]

Firearm Proof Marks, Arsenal & Inspector Marks

That chart has been "lifted" from the standard work by Wirnsberger but lacks the text that goes with it.

The two BM marks (I have never seen the Gunmakers mark on a firearm) were introduced in 1916 for all military arms up to and including .315 and modified to include all calibres of firearms for military use in 1925.

It is my opinion that any firearm bearing either of the BMs is "in Proof" because it has been proofed by one of the two Statutory Proof Houses - which is all that is required in law. The Proof of non-military firearms would have been exactly the same but they would have been marked differently. However as Thunderbox says, some dealers are wary that they may have to test that in court and so you will see rifles that have been "double proofed".

[Jc5]

That chart has been "lifted" from the standard work by Wirnsberger but lacks the text that goes with it.

I just love how easily some people just "lift" the hard work of others and then pass it off as their own on the web. Whoever runs that site should be ashamed. I love how they had the nerve to "copyright" the page at the bottom.