+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 15

Thread: 1942 BSA No4 stamping question

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #1
    Legacy Member jonh172's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Last On
    Today @ 12:31 AM
    Posts
    403
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    08:25 AM

    1942 BSA No4 stamping question

    Hi all!

    I’m looking at a ‘42 Bsa No4 and the bolt does not have a serial stamped on the rear of the handle.
    It only has “1942” stamped on the underside of the handle.

    Is this normal for a 42? Were the serials not stamped on them until later or is this an incorrect bolt?

    Thanks in advance!

    Jon
    Information
    Warning: This is a relatively older thread
    This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

  2. # ADS
    Friends and Sponsors
    Join Date
    October 2006
    Posts
    All Threads
    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.
     

  3. #2
    Legacy Member Alan de Enfield's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Last On
    Today @ 09:14 AM
    Location
    Y Felinheli, Gogledd Cymru
    Posts
    2,526
    Real Name
    Alan De Enfield
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    01:25 PM
    If the bolt does not have a matching serial number then this was not fitted whilst in military use.

    The assumption would be that someone bought the rifle with a 'lost bolt' bought a bolt and 'slid it in'.
    Bolts are not plug and play and they need proper 'FITTING' (as in work needs doing).

    There is an article in the 'library' by Peter Laidlericon explaining how to fit a bolt, it is not rocket-science but it needs doing properly to avoid having an unsafe rifle.
    Mine are not the best, but they are not too bad. I can think of lots of Enfields I'd rather have but instead of constantly striving for more, sometimes it's good to be satisfied with what one has...

  4. Avoid Ads - Become a Contributing Member - Click HERE
  5. #3
    Advisory Panel
    Roger Payne's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Last On
    03-20-2024 @ 06:05 AM
    Location
    Sutton Coldfield, UK.
    Posts
    3,429
    Real Name
    Roger Payne
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    01:25 PM
    As Alan has said it is not normal practice as all rifles had their bolts numbered to the body by the manufacturer. If the bolt required replacement in service there was a specific procedure for doing this, & it included the numbering of the new bolt to the rifle. This particular rifle may have come along with a missing bolt, or it may simply have had that bolt in it & somebody didn't like the fact that it was mismatched & so linished the number off.......but it would not have been left without a number in military service.

  6. #4
    Legacy Member jonh172's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Last On
    Today @ 12:31 AM
    Posts
    403
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    08:25 AM
    Thread Starter
    Ok that’s what I thought just wanted to confirm!!

    Not my first rodeo fitting bolts so no problem there,
    More of an interest/information question for myself and also maybe will give me leverage to get the price down a bit

    Thanks guys!

  7. The Following 2 Members Say Thank You to jonh172 For This Useful Post:


  8. #5
    Legacy Member jonh172's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Last On
    Today @ 12:31 AM
    Posts
    403
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    08:25 AM
    Thread Starter
    Got the rifle in question yesterday.
    Very nice surprise to see the matching serial stamped on the bolt where it should be!

    I guess the seller didn’t realize the serial on the back of the bolt handle was what made it “matching” and not the “1942” stamped on the underside!

  9. Thank You to jonh172 For This Useful Post:


  10. #6
    Advisory Panel
    Roger Payne's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Last On
    03-20-2024 @ 06:05 AM
    Location
    Sutton Coldfield, UK.
    Posts
    3,429
    Real Name
    Roger Payne
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    01:25 PM
    A bit of unexpected good news!

  11. #7
    Legacy Member jonh172's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Last On
    Today @ 12:31 AM
    Posts
    403
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    08:25 AM
    Thread Starter
    For sure Roger thanks!

    Now back to my original question!

    Why would 1942 be stamped on the underside of the handle?
    I’ll provide some pictures for a better look

  12. Thank You to jonh172 For This Useful Post:


  13. #8
    Legacy Member jonh172's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Last On
    Today @ 12:31 AM
    Posts
    403
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    08:25 AM
    Thread Starter
    Here are the pictures.
    I under the handle is a washed out or poorly struck 1942?? Maybe 1943? Hard to say.
    Maybe 1948?! Were FTR. Dates ever stamped there?




  14. Thank You to jonh172 For This Useful Post:


  15. #9
    Advisory Panel
    Roger Payne's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Last On
    03-20-2024 @ 06:05 AM
    Location
    Sutton Coldfield, UK.
    Posts
    3,429
    Real Name
    Roger Payne
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    01:25 PM
    The rifle has been refurbed at some point as it appears to be suncorited. (It also has a Savage cocking piece). The original finish on a 42 BSA would have been blued, if I am not mistaken. The bolt could be an ordnance replacement. BSA produced bolts bear a letter 'B' stamped onto the rear flat (the same flat that the s/n is stamped into but right up where the bolt handle meets the bolt body). Later on, the B changed to M47/C. This was probably when the butt socket markings changed in the same way, during 1943. We can just see some markings in this area but they go off the edge of the photo. The other way a BSA made bolt can sometimes be determined is if the bolt handle is hollowed out or not. Other manufacturers may have started out like that but generally tended to revert to the solid knob. BSA never did, so if the bolt handle knob is solid it ain't factory original.

    Hope these few pointers assist.....though none help with your original question. Looks like 1946 to me. I suspect it is a date, as one sometimes sees odd components, or perhaps odd batches of them, that were not generally dated, but which were on occasions.........but I have no proof of this, just speculation having seen a few spares over the years!
    Last edited by Roger Payne; 09-21-2020 at 02:23 PM.

  16. #10
    Legacy Member jonh172's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Last On
    Today @ 12:31 AM
    Posts
    403
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    08:25 AM
    Thread Starter
    Very helpful Roger as always thanks!

    I’ll look to see if the bolt is hollowed or not.

    The paint on this example is more of a bbq paint. It’s coated all over the bolt body, head and cocking piece and makes it sticky in the action. The striker capture screw is coated in the top only, not the sides and the slot is partially filled with paint, I think someone gave it the spray bomb treatment without disassembling anything.

  17. Thank You to jonh172 For This Useful Post:


+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. 1942 Remington 1903 bolt question
    By poppy115 in forum M1903/1903A3/A4 Springfield Rifle
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 01-11-2019, 07:56 PM
  2. 1942 Lithgow No1 paint marking question
    By kpj53 in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 29
    Last Post: 11-16-2018, 06:48 PM
  3. 1942 Longbranch question
    By yoopercollector in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 37
    Last Post: 10-14-2015, 06:40 PM
  4. Springfield 1942 M1 Garand Question
    By mills in forum M1 Garand/M14/M1A Rifles
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 05-16-2014, 11:29 PM
  5. FR buttstock stamping question
    By old crow in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 04-06-2012, 08:59 AM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
Raven Rocks