Markings

[bradtx]

Peter, Here's a poor picture of the W within a star:


Brad

[No4Mk1(T)]

As noted in the Comments section of that MKL entry above, keep in mind that even genuine No.4(T)'s may have undergone some factory repairs, therefore they may not exactly match descriptions. A good example is a rifle that went through one of the W.R.S. (Weedon Repair Standard) sub-contractors. Referring to Ian Skennerton's book "The Broad Arrow", a rifle having undergone W.R.S. repairs, may be identified by a six (6) pointed star stamped into the wood, with a letter stamped underneath it indicating the specific sub-contractor who did the work. For example, the pics of the MKL entry above show a different (not the one in photo pictorial) 1944 M47c (BSA Shirley) No.4 Mk1(T), that has no S51 stamped under the butt, however, the butt itself was changed during a visit to for W.R.S. work to W.W. Greener, as indicated by the six (6) pointed star and the letter V, which was their sub-contractor code letter. Therefore, when this rifle is examined overall, it's obviously a legitimate No.4(T), probably having been returned for repair from service, after having undergone some kind of damage in the field.
Regards,
Badger

Thanks for posting this Badger. It’s been many moons since I thumbed my copy of "The Broad Arrow" and had forgotten this information was in there. One of my No.4Mk.1(T) rifles has the V and six pointed star stamp but also luckily still has it’s S51 stamp as well. It’s nice to add another piece to the history of my rifle and to know that both Holland & Holland as well as W.W. Greener had their hands on it.

[krinko]

Here's another photo of the five-pointed-star-with-a-"W"-in-it.
The marks in wood I have seen---all two of them---have been on the underside of the wrist and both have the "M C" in close formation with them.

The mark occurs twice on Mk1/2 conversions in my possession, once alone and once in conjunction with the same mark in the receiver ring, as shown by bradtx.
I'm leaning toward India or Pakistan as the source of this annoying mystery at the moment----always blame the Mysterious East, I say.
-----krinko

[No4Mk1(T)]

OK so how about a red five pointed star painted on the chest lid of one of my No.4Mk.1(T) rifles? I assume it's a unit marking of some type. Any ideas?