Question about a question mark

[Demo]

Hello all,

Can anyone shed some light on this question mark stamp. It appears on my 1916 and 1917 Lithgow actions and barrels, rifles serial numbered from 40000 to 80000 approximately.

Thanks

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Amatikulu]

I have a 1916 dated Lithgow that also bears a serial number with a "?" prefix. I asked about it several years ago and the only plausible response I got was that serial numbers were assigned in blocks and that this particular block was meant to go on a shipment from Great Britain that had been on a ship that was presumed sunk. As they were not certain of its status, the "?" was used. I have nothing to corroborate this explanation as it was from a single poster five or six years ago.

[Peter Laidler]

Er.......... is it me or an age thing, but exactly where is this question mark supposed to be?

[Badger]

Hi Peter ..

After you click on images to ENLARGE them, you may find they automatically size smaller in your browser's window making them harder to view. The auto sizing is your browser's way of keeping images entirely within the screen size you have set. Move your mouse pointer to the bottom centre of the pic and you will see an options panel appear. There will be a small square box next to the large X, which will have a pointer arrow sticking out of it. If it's illuminated, it means the pic you're viewing can be enlarged, so click on this box and the pic will EXPAND and open to its normal size. Click your mouse again and the pics reverts to a thumbnail size. You won't find this capability on other gun web sites, as the thumbnail pic pop-up is costumed designed for this site only. We had it developed for us as we hated the default method of viewing thumbnail pic attachments that came with the bulletin board software.

If you do that with either of the pics shown, you'll get an enlarged version and you'll be able to see the ? in a circle above the serial number ...

Hope that helps ...

Regards,
Doug

[Peter Laidler]

I saw that Badger but thought it looked like an incomplete figure 2 in an incomplete circle. Could it be? Who says it's a question mark? Has anyone got a picture of a complete/clear stamping? Not that I know anything about it

[Demo]

Sorry if the pictures aren't clear but it's definitely a figure like a question mark.