My BSA No1 Mk III !

[Thunderbox]

On my laptop I can't read the date - is it 1940 or 1942?

The rifle is interesting, because it is one of the very last No1 MkIIIs (ie a rifle built to full military spec including a cut-off) made by BSA; after 1940 BSA switched to "Dispersal" rifles mostly made to MkIII* spec and without the full "BSA&Co" title.

Most of the last MkIIIs are "L" prefix numbers and dated 1940. "M" prefix rifles are supposed to be Dispersals. Clearly there was a bit f an overlap in production, and a few more MkIIIs were finished after the introduction of the Dispersals. "Never say never" with Enfields!

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[bekoki]

On my laptop I can't read the date - is it 1940 or 1942?

The rifle is interesting, because it is one of the very last No1 MkIIIs (ie a rifle built to full military spec including a cut-off) made by BSA; after 1940 BSA switched to "Dispersal" rifles mostly made to MkIII* spec and without the full "BSA&Co" title.

Most of the last MkIIIs are "L" prefix numbers and dated 1940. "M" prefix rifles are supposed to be Dispersals. Clearly there was a bit f an overlap in production, and a few more MkIIIs were finished after the introduction of the Dispersals. "Never say never" with Enfields!

Hi Thunderbox,

my rifle is dated 1940. I also think that a 1940 BSA mk III is an interesting rifle: I couldn't resist the temptation and I bought it... But that butt now hurt me...

West German proof marks? Not from this lot of ex-Italian Navy guns, is it?

No, it should be from another lot... not Italian Navy. Could you tell me which marks are West German?
Thank you!



Regards,

Alessandro