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Thread: Markings on 1919 BSA SMLE

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  1. #11
    Contributing Member mrclark303's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jack Flat Cap View Post
    Do you think a civilian owner did it?
    Well possibly, its the eternal case of how longs a piece of string really after 100 years unfortunately, its all extremely subjective, as these rifles have travelled far and wide, various official use's by many different countries, club ownership and private ownership etc etc.
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    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

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    Advisory Panel Brian Dick's Avatar
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    It looks pretty honest to me. Is that a Century Arms import mark on the right side of the body? That means it was imported post 1986. Curio and Relic military surplus rifles were banned from importation from 1968 until 1986 so it certainly came from someone's reserve stores. Some might say that it was cobbled up by the importer but I seriously doubt that's the case. It's more likely to have seen service in post war Europe, the Middle East or possibly India. It looks a lot like SMLE rifles I've had here that came from Greek reserve stores. You bet it's been worked on by Armourers too during it's 100 year service career. Replacement parts of any manufacture might be found. The "Z" stamp signifies that it was culled as beyond local repair at some point. Possibly for excessive body wear and/or many other reasons. The gauges don't lie.

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    Quote Originally Posted by mrclark303 View Post
    various official use's by many different countries, club ownership and private ownership etc etc.
    I figured as much, that's why the Lithgow mark made me think it could have ended up in Australiaicon at some point after 1919, possibly for WWII?

    Quote Originally Posted by Brian Dickicon View Post
    Is that a Century Arms import mark on the right side of the body?
    It is actually; I should have posted that pic before but it completely slipped my mind since they were generous enough to make it minuscule, unlike my Mosin.

    Here's the import markings:
    Attachment 100346

    Quote Originally Posted by Brian Dick View Post
    The "Z" stamp signifies that it was culled as beyond local repair at some point. Possibly for excessive body wear and/or many other reasons.
    That makes sense, both the front and rear handguards look to be replacements.

    From what I can gather, I'm thinking it was put together at BSA in 1919 and inspected there, sent to Australia or some other theater of service or nation, and then re-inspected and "fixed up" at some point. Or just hobbled together at some point.

    I just found a very odd inspection mark on the front sight base that I believe to be an RSAF Enfield inspection mark. This old gal has certainly got around I assume

    Attachment 100347
    Muzzle is to the left, this is just below the front blade.

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    Thanks for sharing, it's always nice to see good quality images of close up markings, it all adds to the group knowledge base.

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    Contributing Member 30Three's Avatar
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    The font of the serial number stamp on the nose cap and magazine appears to be similar; yet the magazine appears to have served on 4 other rifles before this one; which would suggest that the nose cap and mag were maybe fitted at the same time. The font of the barrel date is not the same and unfortunately cannot compare to the serial numbers on the receiver and barrel as no photo.

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    Thank you very much gentlemen for all the help, though markings 1 and 3 are still a mystery to me and I fear I'll never figure them out since they're so obscure.

    Quote Originally Posted by 30Three View Post
    The font of the barrel date is not the same and unfortunately cannot compare to the serial numbers on the receiver and barrel as no photo.
    Good point, here are some photos for comparison!

    Attachment 100384

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    Quote Originally Posted by mrclark303 View Post
    Adding to this, the numbering on the Nose cap is a little hap hazard, not "armourer neat"
    I've known a lot of armourers. That looks "armourer neat" to me

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