Longbranch No4 Mk1* grip mark

[desperatedan]

Just a few last calls before I abandon this.............

3. @Roger Payne and @Alan de Enfield: The English export stamp is a real thing. Ref: British Enfield Rifles, Volume 2 2nd Edition Revised, Lee-Enfield No* 4 and No* 5 Rifles, Stratton, 2003

“BRITISH EXPORT MARKS
On many No. 4 rifles (and conversions) and No. 5 rifles, one finds the word "ENGLAND" stamped in letters 0.08-inch high on the top of the receiver ring or on the left side of the buttstock socket. This indicates that the rifle was approved for export. Such rifles also generally carry the British Nitro-Proof stamp—a crown with the letters "BNP" beneath—on the barrel, the receiver ring, or both.”

My take away from this point is that the reason we don’t see Canada marked on all those English imports is because they’re not marked for import. They were marked by the Brits before they got in the boat. That must have complied enough with the sporadically adhered to US import law, I guess.

doca,

No disrespect but with me being a Brit in the UK I would suggest that whilst he has compiled a lot of good material, Stratton shouldn't be taken as a definitive source. It was written some years ago and in particular he is a US author referencing British/UK proof marks.

It is the law in the UK (The Gun Barrel Proof Act dating back to 1868) that any firearm offered for sale in the UK must have valid proof marks. This also applies to any firearm imported for sale. It also applies to any firearm prior to EXPORT from the UK. So all those "BNP" proof marks you see are a legal requirement before those typically British firearms you will come across over there have left these shores.

Any other marks, in particular "ENGLAND" stamps, are marks applied by the IMPORTER in the USA as required under US law. Other than proof marks, there is no British/UK legislation that requires/required the UK (England/Scotland, etc) as country of origin to be marked on firearms prior to export. It may be that within the 'no-mans land' of a bonded warehouse the marks required by the importing nation are added but there wouldn't have been any need for them to be applied by the UK exporter.

Good luck with your continuing researches.