SMLE Mk III* Sword and Knight Mark question

[kc9aop@]

I found this mark on the barrel of a SMLE I recently purchased. Can anyone tell me what it is? I can see the sword and what I think looks like a knight and maybe a star. Since I don't know what I'm looking for I can only guess.

Jim

Information

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[MVolkJ]

It's a London Proof House Nitro Proof. Required for commercial sale in UK.

[kc9aop@]

Ahhhhhhh. I've been looking around for this and couldn't find it anywhere.

Thanks!

[Beerhunter]

It looks like a mixture of two marks (possibly three), one of which may be the Gunmakers Company (London) Proof - an "armed" arm holding a Seax over NP.

[MVolkJ]

Agreed. It's definitely the London NP mark, but it looks like it has been stamped right on top of an Enfield view mark (crown over E).

[CINDERS]

I notice a 27 there as well under the sword on top of the E ?

[Beerhunter]

The more I look at it the more I am convinced that there are three over-stamped marks and I am now not convinced that one of them is the Gunmakers Company Proof mark. I look at lots of English Proof marks (sad person that I am) and it just doesn't look "right" to me.

A better picture with the seax (if that is what it is) at the top would help.

[jrhead75]

I'm just seeing the Gunmakers' proof stamped perpendicular to, and on top of an Enfield view mark. The extreme closeup makes it look a bit odd.

[MVolkJ]

Yep, that's what I'm seeing as well. Arm holding Seax stamped over top Crown 27 E.

What is it with the London Proof House and stamping over things? Quite a few of the London marks I've seen are right on top of other markings. The Crown GP Gunmaker's proof on my RSAF Enfield SMLE is right on top of the serial number.

[kc9aop@]

I have a few more pics that may help.

I see now that what I thought was a knight is really the end of the roped base for the Nitro mark. I see a 2 and an E and maybe a piece of a crown.

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