dispersal aussie?

[dachshund]

I've got (had for years, no import stamps) a No 1 MKlll* stamped "GR" over the Crown symbol with a very small "R" beneath, below that is "1944" over "Sht L.E." over "III star" (as opposed to an *) on the right side. The serial no. ,9061, is stamped on the right side of the receiver ring, there are no other numbers on the rifle. On the receiver end of the barrel, is the "stacked rifle" stamp. The trigger guard is stamped "BA", the rear sight and stock band are stamped "OA". The nose cap has holes in the ears, round on the left side and oblong on the right. The transverse screw is flush with the surrounding metal, lacking the oversize screw commonly found. The nosecap has the usual contour as opposed to the Ishapore pattern.

The rifle is in excellent condition and is stocked in what appears to be walnut, except for the forward upper handguard, which appears to be beech. I believe this to be a "dispersal" rifle with a BSA barrel and what could be Aussie (orange arsenal) parts. On the buttstock, "L" by the way, on the underside, near the trigger guard is stamped "1956" over "47c" over the broad arrow.

I would appreciate anything anyone could tell me about this rifle, I've had it for thirty plus years, and it's a very good shooter. It would be nice to know something of it's past.

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[No4Mk1(T)]

It sounds like a dispersal built rifle that saw service and went through an FTR in Australia. If I remember correctly the butt stock markings, beyond the “L”, is a post war replacement made by BSA. One other possibility is a restored sporter. Not likely given how long you’ve had it but it is possible.

[krinko]

Does the buttsocket mark look like this?
There is no "FTR" mark at the bottom, or a squiggle that could be such a mark?

"The serial no. ,9061, is stamped on the right side of the receiver ring, there are no other numbers on the rifle."
Not on the barrel, either?
Anyway. this unnumbered thing isn't normal military practice, not even with the '44 Dispersal rifles. I am going to go with 'rebuilt sporter" as "T" suggested.
The 1956 dated buttstock ought to be a No4 butt and ought to be Beech---it would be very unusual to see a No1 butt or Walnut from BSA at that date.
Does the butt have a No1 buttplate?
Any chance of photos?
-----krinko

[dachshund]

The "L" for long is on the top, very back of the buttstock next to the buttplate (brass). The buttsocket stamping is identical to that in the photo, except that it lacks the "FTR". The 1956 47C is on the underside of the buttstock near the trigger guard. The buttstock wood doesn't look like any beech I ever saw, it matches the wood on the rest of the rifle except for the forward upper handguard as noted and it looks very much like walnut.

[krinko]

There ought to be a letter prefix next to the serial number on the receiver---is it an "N"?
-----krinko

[dachshund]

There are no other characters with the numbers. On the left side of the receiver opposite the numbers are a small crown over the letters "BM" over an even smaller stamp "BSA".

[Alan de Enfield]

There are no other characters with the numbers. On the left side of the receiver opposite the numbers are a small crown over the letters "BM" over an even smaller stamp "BSA".

I think the 'crown over BM' is the civilain proof test mark for the Birmingham proof house

[krinko]

Crowned BM is the proof mark for a military pattern rifle made for a non-military buyer.
Should be repeated on the bottom of the bolt knob and the left side of the barrel, possibly with "NITRO PROOVED" as well.
If there is no military proof on the left side of the receiver ring---(oh, for a photograph)----it's possible this is a leftover receiver that was assembled into a rifle after the Dispersal program ended.
Which would explain odd number and number pattern---and odd furniture.
Very interesting rifle.
-----krinko

[dachshund]

I'll have to tear her down and see if I can get some photos (time to test out the new Nikon D40). My take on the 1956 47C stamp on the underside of the buttstock, is that it may be an FTR date?
Thanx for the input, much appreciated...

[dachshund]

On closer inspection the buttstock that I thought to be walnut is probably birch. It exhibits "flame curling" like the stock on one of my M38 Swedes, which are indeed birch. There is a crown over "BM" and "nitro proof" on left side of the barrel. No luck with the photos, the files are too big...