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Thread: BSA Commercial #1MkIII receiver need help with ID and dating

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    Legacy Member Tbolt's Avatar
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    BSA Commercial #1MkIII receiver need help with ID and dating

    Hi All
    I posted in another thread that I had also acquired a BSA #1MkIII stripped receiver.
    I am trying to ID who it was made for and get it dated if possible.
    As can be seen in the photos below the only thing stamped on the right side of the butt-socket ring is B.S.A. Co.
    Although on the left side there is a hole that I am not familiar with.





















    Any help that you guys can give would be greatly appreciated.
    Any advice about parts selection for the commercial versus the military contract models will be greatly appreciated.
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    Warning: This is a relatively older thread
    This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

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    Advisory Panel Thunderbox's Avatar
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    If the number begins with a "5" (not clear on my PC) then its a "Bahrain" rifle - one of a large batch made for the Gulf States in the late 1920s.These were all re-imported from Bahrain about ten years ago.

    The hole on the left of the butt socket is for the safety spring screw.

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    Legacy Member Tbolt's Avatar
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    Thread Starter
    Sorry about the bluriness in some of the photos(cell phone camera)

    The serial number is 32501, so that would not make it a Bahraini rifle then.
    Where could I find a record of these numbers? would it be in The Lee-Enfield Story?

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    The best that I can do for you, based on the Birmingham Military Proof Mark, is: between the wars.

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    Perhaps he meant the hole for the ejector screw instead of the one on the butt socket?

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    Could be Portuguese contract.

    Is there any proof mark that looks like a crossed swords with a small letter above it?
    Is there any number stamped on the top-rear flat part of the action, where the bolt slides in?
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    Researching Lee Speeds and all commercial Lee Enfields. If you have data to share or questions, please send me a PM.

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    Legacy Member Tbolt's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by jc5icon View Post
    Could be Portuguese contract.

    Is there any proof mark that looks like a crossed swords with a small letter above it?
    Is there any number stamped on the top-rear flat part of the action, where the bolt slides in?
    In the 8th photo you see the flat part beside the bolt track? there is a number 8 stamped there, it's a bit blurry but it is an eight.

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    A recently-discovered SMLE over on CGN is marked to A. G. Parker quite prominently, both on the Knox-form AND on the top Body flat over the Chamber area. This one isn't, so ikely it's not a Parker. The other rifle also is marked BSA Co. but also has the Crown and is undated, as this specimen. It has been a Match rifle at some time. See thread 731039 in the Milsurp forum.

    Being almost a total confuser-illiterate, I have NO idea how to post this as a Link.

    Not much help, I know. Sorry.
    .

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    Deceased January 15th, 2016 Beerhunter's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by jc5icon View Post
    Is there any proof mark that looks like a crossed swords with a small letter above it?
    Unfortunately they would be found on the barrel.

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    Quote Originally Posted by smellie View Post
    See thread 731039 in the Milsurp forum.

    Being almost a total confuser-illiterate, I have NO idea how to post this as a Link.
    Could you help us navigate there? The name of the forum? To paste the link, go to the top of the browser window, where it says "http://www.milsurps..."etc. Put your cursor in there and double click to select it, then copy it it (rtight-click>copy), then return here and paste the link in a new post. Thanks!

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