1944-45 Bsa

[ThomasR]

I get this no4 in the mail. I can't figure out what exactly it is. I start researching and wind up here. The most info on the net that I can find. I still do not know exactly what I have. So what do I have?
1944-45 Bsa, M/47C, Buttsocket ser# 30Q60 no prefix, The bolt handle ser#30060 no prefix, The reciever has been scrubbed, very difficult to see what model/manufacture, I can make out No.4 M*Tvery difficult to see, no other marks on the socket. The magazine has no #. Stock looks to be walnut. The bore is superb/excellent.
Could this rifle have been in crate and never got the T conversion. Or maybe it was rejected. Anyone know the story, I've been researching for days and nights now. Help. Pics up in a few. Thanks ThomasR

Information

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[ThomasR]

pics what do you all think?

[ThomasR]

try again I think I got it.

[Amatikulu]

You have a 1940's No.4 Mark 1 made at Birmingham Small Arms Shirley Factory. The color of the wood and the serial number/font make me suspect it was renumbered while in service on the Indian sub-continent. Does it have the transverse wood screw in the fore end?

[Thunderbox]

Its just an early No4 Mk1. Nice to find in original condition like that. I'm not sure its been scrubbed in any way - its typically early BSA blueing on the metal. Markings on these early rifles were often crude or mis-struck.

[bradtx]

I'm with Amatikulu regarding a rebuild...no idea where, but some place other than England or Canada. A Q prefix could be '44 or '45 and if the s/n were restamped incorrectly(?).

Brad

[tlvaughn]

You mentioned that the bolt handle is marked 30060 and that the butt socket is marked 30Q60. Looking at the photo's you provided, it looks like the butt socket is marked 30060. Are you sure it is a Q?

[Amatikulu]

30,000 to 39,000 was a serial number block assigned later in the war to BSA-Shirley so the number looks legitimate - I've just never seen that font used.

[ThomasR]

I am as sure as can be. If you zoom in and then go to like 200 percent you can see the tail of the Q, It has the same patina as the rest of the ser#. The bolt does not have the Q. I will get better pics tomorrow, Thanks ThomasR

[Pattern14]

I am as sure as can be. If you zoom in and then go to like 200 percent you can see the tail of the Q, It has the same patina as the rest of the ser#. The bolt does not have the Q. I will get better pics tomorrow, Thanks ThomasR

I'm not sure that's a Q especially since the bolt serial number is 30060. When I enlarged it, it appears as if it's a gouge/mark on top of the number "0". I'm not aware of serial numbers that have alphabet characters within the number, but then again I'm not an expert. I have seen many, however, that begin with letters, e.g., PFXXXXX.