Need help with markings!

[Ridolpho]

Recently purchased this commercial CLLE I*. Previous owner advised of pitting and had planned to have it refinished. I'm simply going to finish a serious cleaning/ de-rusting and leave it alone as wood is great and bore is shiny with good+ rifling. Has LSA on right cheek but appears to have been re-barreled by BSA either before or during conversion to charger loading. Three sets of numbers on rifle: 4449 on body, barrel, bolt, butt, and forend; 10659 on body and barrel; 347 on underside of reinforce and on the sight added during conversion. Note that the 4449 on body/ barrel differ in style and that there are clearly older marks on the receiver ring that have been partially removed (a piece of a crown under the BSA view and a 4 and very faint 9 stamped over with the 10659). As you can see, other markings include a bunch of Birmingham Proof/ View marks (leftside barrel reinforce/ receiver ring) and what I'm sure are BSA view marks (right side). I'm looking for help understanding all these markings in addition to the general question of why a commercial MLE would end up being converted to a CLLE. Thanks, in advance.

Ridolpho

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Beerhunter]

The rifle is carrying a set of Bimingham Proof marks: Crowned BV, Crowned BP, Crowned NP, etc.

Oddly enough the rifle is also showing Gunmakers Company (London) marks: Crowned V and Crowned SP (Special Proof).

I guess the second set, (possibly Birmingham - based on the barrel) were added when the rifle was re-Proofed after getting the new BSA barrel, as required by law.

I would also guess that the marks are post-1904 but pre-Great War because between the wars military calibre firearms would have carried the Birmingham Military (Crowned BM) or London Military (Lion over intertwined LMP) - marks.

You may guess that Proof marks are part of my study area and so any comments gratefully received.

[Ridolpho]

Thought I'd knock this back up one last time to see if I can get any feedback in addition to Beerhunters useful comments. To summarize briefly, started as LSA commercial MLE MkI*, was re-barreled by BSA, was converted to charger loading. Going over it again, only things I can add are a BSA patent on the nosecap (covered by rust, initially) and WD/ broad arrow on rear volley sight arm which I assume is meaningless due to ease of replacement. No hint of markings on wood (other than the 4449 number). There is also no evidence the sights were upgraded for MkVII ammunition. I only know what I've read on the forum about commercial rifles and am curious about whom it might have been purchased by that left it in England and available for conversion. Were commercial charger loading conversions actually done (ie. rifle not destined for War Dept? Hope this makes some sense and would appreciate any enlightenment. Thanks,

Ridolpho

[Beerhunter]

The only additional comment I can make is that the Birmingham Gun Trade rarely wasted anything and all in the days before the word "recycling" was coined.