No. 4 T time capsule?

[Lance]

Just added a new "T" to the collection and I thought I would share. For me finding a matching early "T" (with an Mk I or II scope) is a challenge due to the way they were imported into the country and sold and the fact that many were upgraded over service.

This example seems to have escaped, a 1943 BSA AL series rifle with a Mk I HBM, all matching with can (chest does not match, 1944 dated "PI Cambridge"). It was used, the can is well worn, the outside lid rifle markings are almost gone with the exception of a "4" from the s/n. Inside the label is intact but it appears some range calibrations were noted and then scratched out over time.

The rifle appears pretty close to original as it left H&H. The front handguard might have been replaced, as it does not match completely in color. The scope mount has been s/n'd and pads staked. No "T" on the body, eyeshade still on the scope, and the reason why I stated time capsule. It appears the front trigger guard screw is still staked in place, so she has not been taken apart since she left the service.

The only sad part is that the bore was not properly cleaned and has some pitting.

Does anyone know the maker of the chests? PI Cambridge. I also have chests by: EG & SON 1945, A of E H Ltd, B&IN Ltd., and VCB&S Ltd (letters may be incorrect, some are very hard to make out)

Information

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[Warren]

Very nice...
You do not see many Mk.1 scopes with the sunshade till attached and also attached to a rifle and matching.
I would suspect it was a lend lease to a friendly nation during or after WW 2
Any markings that would confirm that?
The yellow paint on the box is consistent with rifles sold off as surplus to a Canadian dealer many years go....in the late 50's early 60's
Just my .02 cents worth.
A nice find
The wood and metal has the sheen of what I see on a lot of rifles that have come out of India.
you can often get a faint smell of creosote on rifles out of India as well

[desperatedan]

Does anyone know the maker of the chests? PI Cambridge. I also have chests by: EG & SON 1945, A of E H Ltd, B&IN Ltd., and VCB&S Ltd (letters may be incorrect, some are very hard to make out)

Lance,

P.I. is probably Papworth Industries, (in the village of Papworth nr Cambridge). A furniture/luggage trunk maker and also part of the WW2 Civil Repair Organisation (for aircraft). More details about them here on wiki

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papworth_Industries

Nice rifle, great find!

ATB, Kev

[Gil Boyd]

Kev,
A company I dealt with for many years.
Papworth Hospital besides being known around the world as a Heart Hospital, since moved to Addenbrookes in Cambridge, was in fact a Sanitorium during and after WW1 for cases of Pneumonia. Many of those that ended up there after recovery stayed on to form Papworth Industries that made ALL the cases for the Military, and then changed names to Remploy taking on disabled ex servicemen and women, and latterly Swayne & Adeney, who are now in London. The old Papworth Hospital site was sold last year to a rich Chinese businessman, no use yet for the historic premises.
Swayne & Adeney concentrated on canvas type cases top end, with leather corners, very expensive.
Just a bit of useless information, but I can confirm they did make Bren chests there, never saw any 4T chests though! Easy to modify of course!!

[Roger Payne]

Yes, it's Papworth Industries. It resonates somewhat for me as my first wife was under the care of Papworth hospital awaiting a heart lung transplant in the late 1980's early '90's. (Sadly she never made it). We spent two or three stays down there I was accommodated by an ex-serviceman & his wife, who, prior to retiring, had worked for PI (or it may have been Remploy by then). They were most kind to me.

[Surpmil]

Quite a time capsule. Odd how someone crossed out the original label then scrawled the same info on again! Had HBMCo. No. 5254 at one time IIRC.