Parker Hale sporter?

[browningautorifle]

They are some kind of acceptance stamp,

That's better...

[Alan de Enfield]

FTR B = BSA


Strange - edited 5 times - I type in upper case and it comes out in lower case

[Peter Laidler]

Did BSA really STAMP the FTR marks in? I think that they were engraved. Anyone else out there got the marks stamped in place? We were not allowed to stamp anywhere except the butt socket.

[Gil Boyd]

Certainly seen a massive repair at some stage in its past, with the F.T.R stamp, and definately sporterized by Parker Hale at some stage. IMHO it started life as a 4T and probably took a serious knock and converted thereafter to a good outback rough riders rifle, and where serious knocks and rough handling didn't matter anymore.

The symbol in #5 is the British Inspection mark with the cypher over the engineers number, with an E traditionally meaning it had gone through ROF Enfield IMHO, albeit the E should be on its back unless an engineer felt he wanted to be different.
In answer to your above question B traditionally stands for BSA, but in my experience would normally be stamped in Italic.
If that was the case this rifle has been around several workshops, but for $75 worth every penny as long as the lead hits the paper!!

[Peter Laidler]

Sorry to disagree chaps. But if that rifle was ever a No4T or ever went within 100 miles of H&H, then I'm a piccolo player. As for those bits of wood randomly thrown at the butt........ I hate to call them repairs of any sort, then it don't look like it's ever been within 100 miles of an Armourers shop either. Just a plain run-of-the-mill Maltby made rifle, sold of by the thousands post-war, bought in by the trade, tarted up to be sold for a bit of a profit. And why not!

Those marks might indicate a post war commercial FTR at BSA. But not on that firle and stamped like that they ain't. Just my opinion of course based on nothing more than experience

[Alan de Enfield]

Those marks might indicate a post war commercial FTR at BSA. But not on that firle and stamped like that they ain't. Just my opinion of course based on nothing more than experience

My understanding is that BSA had a fairly large FTR programme in the 50's - i have seen a few rifles with identical "FTR B" markings stamped into the LH side of the action and have been told theses were the 50's BSA FTR markings.

[Peter Laidler]

BSA did indeed have a large FTR programme post war. But this was a commercial operation for the commercial world of emerging nations wishing to re-arm after buying vast quantities. The norm for body side markings was roll or die rolled or engraved. But not stamped - uness anyone can show differently AdeE. And to be honest, amateur stamping like and certainly primary school standard wood working like that isn't something you'd normally get from BSA. Not if you wanted repeat orders.............

[Roger Payne]

Thanks Pete. I was starting to doubt my senses. Never a 4 T - ever! I agree also re the wood repairs. Could never imagine anything of that standard being acceptable to the British army.

[TCS-5]

Thank you gents for taking the time t comment on this rifle.

Gil,
I agree, it's worth $75 for a project or parts...

Peter,
I agree, I'm no expert but there are no signs of it ever being a 'T'.

As I see it the wood is junk. Front sight has taken a beating.


The barrel is too short to restore to full MBR.
And as Peter said "Just a plain run-of-the-mill Maltby made rifle". A hurriedly built but functional war era example.

So it looks to be a good candidate for project. Typically I don't care for sporterized MBRs. If it can't be restored I'd still like to "look" like a battle rifle. A carbine conversion or No4 "Tanker" comes to mind... This is not ment to offend the purists, if someone has a better idea I'm open to hear it.

[Gil Boyd]

One has to agree its a bitchbotch, and certainly looks that way with whoever struck the FTR however, I have always looked for the "proper" stamps in the correct places, so are we saying from the "proper" marks at #5 this rifle never went through Enfield? More than probably the band was bought separately!