Early Enfield Oiler

**Flying10uk** · 10-15-2016 07:38 AM

I have a couple of these oilers which were sold to me as being South African. The only markings which I can see are the ones visible on the base. Is anyone able to confirm that it defiantly is South African, please?

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**Terrylee** · 10-15-2016 04:15 PM

I have copies of documents from the South African Military Archives dated from January to March, 1942 indicating that 80,000 oilers were ordered from W.R.E. & Reid with a further 20,000 from the Associated Engineers Co. There nay, of course, have been other orders.

**bigduke6** · 10-15-2016 05:13 PM

Originally Posted by Gingercat

All in all, a lot more fun than collecting vintage burger packaging...

Quite true Mike, I was only pointing out the fact to Peter that folk collect just about everything........I just never got round to collecting oil bottles.

**Strangely Brown** · 10-16-2016 01:06 PM

Sunday night mystery for you all.

I've never identified this bottle which has Indian ownership marking on the lid, the base appears to be marked B.B.C, or it could be 8.B.C.or even 8.B.O.??

Thoughts?

**5thBatt** · 10-16-2016 02:41 PM

Oiler Index

Site has been down for a couple of years but i saved it using the "WayBackMachine"

**mike1967** · 10-16-2016 03:59 PM

Originally Posted by Strangely Brown

Thoughts?

The IG could stand for Irish Guards?

**5thBatt** · 10-16-2016 04:04 PM

Originally Posted by mike1967

The IG could stand for Irish Guards?

IG is Indian Government according to the site i linked above

**Strangely Brown** · 10-16-2016 04:08 PM

Originally Posted by 5thBatt

Site has been down for a couple of years but i saved it using the "WayBackMachine"

I supplied a few pictures for David when he first put the site together, surprised to see the names of two friends on there, one of which I bumped into at Bisley yesterday!
The idea of an index of oilers is sound, shame David Gadbois appears to have walked away from it?

---------- Post added at 09:08 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:06 PM ----------

Originally Posted by mike1967

The IG could stand for Irish Guards?

The I under the broad arrow confirms India; but yes IG = Irish Guards, or the Micks as they were known in my day!

**Peter Laidler** · 10-16-2016 05:14 PM

IG was indeed the Irish Guards marker for butt marking discs until 1943 or so when it was discontinued. We found this on two rifles recovered from the sea in 6 feet of water off Dunkirk in 2000 as I seem to remember. One of which went on display at Warminster after being immersed in clean/fresh water for 5 years while the other was used at Shrivenham for metallurgy students to dissect.

**5thBatt** · 10-16-2016 05:36 PM

I dont believe the IG on that oil bottle is for Irish Guards

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