Mystery (to me) No1

[Mk VII]

That's the viewer's mark, showing it meets the government spec and is not a tricked-up 'National Match' thing. Required for shooting in S.R.(a) matches.

That's a start. The proof is a crown over a "B" over an "A2".

[Peter Laidler]

I only ever saw that sale permit mark on the little No2 rifles used by School Cadet Forces and local Cadets. No doubt bought off the Government between the wars. And still going strong I expect!

[bigduke6]

Very nice early commercial No1 MkIII. Might well be pre-WW1, as the "sale permit" marks usually seem to occur on No1 Mk1s and Long Lees.

Any chance this would of seen service TB, Officer purchase etc ?

[muffett.2008]

I like it.

[davecatlow]

Thanks all! I appreciate the input!

[Beerhunter]

It's a BSA "Commercial". That is to say one not made for HM Government, thus the lack of Model etc. It should have Crowned BM Proof marks.

Now we find that it is pre-Great War, it will not of course have the Birmingham, Military Proof marks because it pre-dates them.

However this raises other questions about Proof or lack thereof; at least in the pictures that we have seen.