Can someone please tell me what the N22 means?

[Bigedac]

I have, what appears to be, an original MK 4 sniper. All of the information I have been able to find shows it manf. by BSA and "sniperized" by H&H. The only "fly" in the ointment is the S-51. On my rifle there is a N22 stamped where the S-51 should be. There is a broad arrow to the rear of this mark. There is also no scope number to be found on the stock. This rifle is near mint and does not have an original scope. The cheek piece is held on with brass slot head screws. Can someone please tell me what the N22 means? Serial number is C354XX built in 1944.
Biged

Information

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[Steve H. in N.Y.]

N22 is the code for John Curtiss & Sons who made woodwork and some other things. The butt may have been replaced during normal maintenance or to suit an individual sniper who was not comfortable with the length of the original.

[Bigedac]

Bigedacs Gallery Hall Steve, Thanks a million for the info. bet there are darn few collectors that could have answered that one! If I copied the link correctly this will have photos of that rifle. It is in near new condition.
Bigedac

[XL39E1]

The H&H S51 is normally further back on the butt , just behind where your hand grips the butt. Looks like replacement wood all over, should really be a walnut forend and handguards if original!

[Brian Dick]

Pick up a copy of "The Broad Arrow" at http://www.skennerton.com, (I'm out of them). The manufacturer's codes are all there.

[jmoore]

Good photos, BTW!



Looks indeed like replacement wood, and the lack of fitting would indicate it wasn't armorer done. The metal finish isn't consistant but it could be lighting. Real "T", but it's been "helped" a bit.

[Bigedac]

J,
The muzzle looks like it has no finish in this photo, but it does. The entire rifle is about 98% finish. It all looks original, yesterday I took the whole thing apart. It all looks almost new. I don't know what this rifles story is, but I bet it's interesting. I took some photos of all the inside markings and will see if I can get them on this site. It even has a T on the bbl. The bbl finish looks like old time fine blueing. Some of the stock parts are painted. The scope in the photo is the one that came with it. I knew the scope and mount were not original. I have put a repo M2 on it. It makes it a representative sample of the type.

[RJW NZ]

Thanks for the pics, nice rifle. I have a question about those weaver scopes. I never used them because the magnification is 2.5, not the 3.5 of the no 32 or the 4x of other ww2 scopes. Sometimes I've seen for the want of a better word 'booster' lenses that attached at the front and raise the power. Is there a fairly simple way to increase weaver 2.5's up to 4x?
The weaver scopes of the right era and price range that are 4x are belled at both ends, so don't have the more no 32 like appearance.
I once had a JC Higgins with th small front like this, which was 4x, thats a cheap scope but with a great period look. Most of them are 2.5's and I've never seen another 4x over the years.

[Peter Laidler]

I bet that scope (picture 1) kicks your eye like a mule when you shoot the rifle............... Surely the eye relief is far to short or am I missing something!

You might also note that there should be a slight gap, of, say, 1 to 1.5mm between the wood butt and the steel butt socket to prevent the butt socket shearing away slivers of the butt during recoil

[Bigedac]

Guys,
I finally did manage to get the new photos up. Please click on "View photos by Bigedac" and you will see the seven new ones.