Came across this yesterday..based on the pics what do you think about it?

[P-07ShortLee]

I thought the symbol for rust was *, perhaps the "R" is something else?

[Nickjc]

+1. Thats what I thought....

[gsimmons]

R....Found rusty by armourer,to be checked by armourer. According to Ian Skennerton. Pg.576 the Lee-Enfield

[P-07ShortLee]

Ok, didn't know that. Thought it might have been a repair marking.

I guess they used a few different markings for rust.
Thanks for the reference.

[krinko]

A script font "R" is the mark for rust, a block letter font "R" is thought to be a mark for replacement barrel or reserve grade barrel.
This is from Skenny's "Broad Arrow", page 78 under "Armourers Markings".
-----krinko

[Peter Laidler]

the 'R' mark was used by us Armourers of the era to mark a previously rusty barrel, noted by an Armourer during an inspection, that was otherwise serviceable and could be improved with regular cleaning. That was to prevent the next used getting a bollocking and the next etc etc. But I don't know what a stylised/italic R is supposed to mean. We just had the usual R in our set of stamps

[user1]

here is where i found it
cheers

[Nickjc]

Wow. That is the R.... BUT not a hint of rust I'm the barrel.....

[user1]

like Peter said it was probably cleaned up over the years
cheers