Star mark on the top of the receiver

[concretus]

Hello,
I was going over the markings on my No 4 Mk 1 and I noticed it has a Star (*) on the top pf the receiver. I briefly looked up an idex of the markings and It says that means there's rust in the bore or a defective rifle? Is that true? The bore on my rifle looks fine, it's shiney; the rifling looks okay; the slugged bore dia measured .314". Is the barrel no good?

Information

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[jmoore]

It's not uncommon to find the rust mark on what appear to be rifles with good bores. Probably was minor and is now undetecable unless you have a bore scope. If it's otherwise OK, don't worry about it.

[tbonesmith]

I've had it on a couple of rifles that I've since rebarrelled, I've always wondered what the according to Hoyle procedure was for cancelling this mark, just out of curiosity.

[concretus]

Thanks!!

[Thunderbox]

Hello,
I was going over the markings on my No 4 Mk 1 and I noticed it has a Star (*) on the top pf the receiver. I briefly looked up an idex of the markings and It says that means there's rust in the bore or a defective rifle? Is that true? The bore on my rifle looks fine, it's shiney; the rifling looks okay; the slugged bore dia measured .314". Is the barrel no good?

Is the mark an asterisk "*" made out of short crossed lines, or is it a more geometric star-shape with an interior space?

The former may or may not be a bore rust mark on No4, the latter is more likely to be a depot inspection mark.

[concretus]

Is the mark an asterisk "*" made out of short crossed lines, or is it a more geometric star-shape with an interior space?

The former may or may not be a bore rust mark on No4, the latter is more likely to be a depot inspection mark.

Okay; I'm going to describe the markings to the best of my ability and their locations.
1. The Star is a five point, it's about 1/8" - 3/16" across at the top center of the receiver where the barrel mates up.
2. Behind it is a stamp the shape of a crown w/ a 51 below it.
3. On the left side of the receiver, in electropencil it says:
No4 Mk1(F) FTR
/48 BB12695
there is a No4 Mk1 stamped over the electropencil.
4. On the left side of the rear lug/ buttstock socket it says:
It looks like the letter M, then 1943
B B
12695
5. On the right side of the rear lug/buttstock socket it looks like a private's stripe w/ the point in the direction to the muzzle; a stamp the shape of a crown and L7 below it.
6. There's a F 28 stamped on the right side of the receiver below the semi-circle cut out.
It does not have the correct front sight; it's a split dovetail, It looks like a 5-groove barrel and in very good condition.
7. on the left side of the barrel, breech end it has an "N" with a line over it, a symbol below the "N" which I can't make out and then along the side it says: BB 12695
There are other stamps on the receiver and barrel that I can't make out. It does look like the rifle was painted black and someone removed about 98% of it w/ parkerizing beneath. I hope This information helps.... Thanks again for all your help!!!

[concretus]

The buttstock is walnut, the forend and handguards are birch.

[concretus]

I'll bring my camera home and take some photos. Oh by the way, on the forend cap and the lower handguard cap metal it is stamped, CE1967.

[Peter Laidler]

If the barrel was pitted, we'd mark the barrel! Certainly in the British Army, we weren't/aren't big on superflous markings/stampings on our weaponry and when we do have them, it's usually for a known and good reason. A couple that I can think of offhand are a little 4 and a 7 on the trigger mech housing of an L1A1 to show that an internal, invisible modification has been completed

[concretus]

If the barrel was pitted, we'd mark the barrel! Certainly in the British Army, we weren't/aren't big on superflous markings/stampings on our weaponry and when we do have them, it's usually for a known and good reason. A couple that I can think of offhand are a little 4 and a 7 on the trigger mech housing of an L1A1 to show that an internal, invisible modification has been completed

Thank you sir. I appreciate your time.