No 4 Mk 1 - A question on numbering (with due trepidation...)

[Roger Payne]

BSA Shirley is often quoted as using a five digit number starting with a '3' & preceded by a letter (apart from the first run which had no letter prefix). This is true, but only applies to 1944 production & after. During 1943 serials are indeed typically a two letter prefix (the first being 'A' & the second working through the alphabet sequentially; AA, AB, AC........AP, AQ, AR etc) followed by a four digit number. Thus your rifle is spot on for BSA 1943 production.

.......& don't worry about being 'technologically challenged'; if we were learning IT at school I'd be on the special needs table.

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[22SqnRAE]

During 1943 serials are indeed typically a two letter prefix (the first being 'A' & the second working through the alphabet sequentially; AA, AB, AC........AP, AQ, AR etc) followed by a four digit number. Thus your rifle is spot on for BSA 1943 production.

.......& don't worry about being 'technologically challenged'; if we were learning IT at school I'd be on the special needs table.

Roger, excellent. I'll not mention a certain reference I may have peeked at, but with around 24,000 rifles to get to this serial, that's probably not a stretch for the factory in that year, especially as production would have been at full steam. Thank you.

Don't push me off the end of the Special's table... I'll need some space for my crayons.