CDN issue SMLE stamps BSA 1918
- Thread starter Riflechair
- Start date
That's a commercial nitro-proved barrel with a C broadarrow? Hmm... looks a little suspicious. The C arrow on the ENGLAND stamp is abruptly cut short, not buffed out on the lower curve. The C-broad arrows on the other side are NOT the normal property stamp used circa 1918, that's a later stamp yet the gun left service in ENGLAND. Also notice how the left Carrow on the barrel looks to have been stamped to try and conceal a plain broadarrow?
I've owned several of these and have handled several dozen of them. I;ve never seen the early commercial NP proof on a REAL cdn issue rifle. I've also never seen the C broad arrow on the bolt handle side of the receiver ring, and certainly not one abruptly cut at the lower leg of the C like that one. The stamp used on the other side's C's looks to be 1930's vintage to me, not ww1 vintage.
Did the seller want a premium for it?
This rifle's authenticity as Canadian issue concerns me. Did you get it recently from a western Canada dealer?
I've owned several of these and have handled several dozen of them. I;ve never seen the early commercial NP proof on a REAL cdn issue rifle. I've also never seen the C broad arrow on the bolt handle side of the receiver ring, and certainly not one abruptly cut at the lower leg of the C like that one. The stamp used on the other side's C's looks to be 1930's vintage to me, not ww1 vintage.
Did the seller want a premium for it?
This rifle's authenticity as Canadian issue concerns me. Did you get it recently from a western Canada dealer?
Well, it looks as if the "England" was stamped over the C/l\, so perhaps it was there before the rifle was exported as surplus. If the mark was applied over the "England", then it was struck after the rifle was surplused. Were SMLE rifles acquired by Canada, and marked during WWII? If that happened, the marking pattern could be different than on a rifle that was WWI Cdn. issue. When No. 4s were issued to replace the SMLEs in Cdn. overseas service, what happened to the SMLEs? If they remained in the UK, they could have been sold surplus along with UK stocks. Problem is that there are stamps around, and a Cdn. marked rifle might attract more interest.
Didn't pay much
glad you guys have a chance to look at the stamps
The stamps are nummerous and largely non matching.
I believe the C arrow stamp (was stamped over with 'ENGLAND') is probably true to form but the others I'm just not sure about.
glad you guys have a chance to look at the stamps
The stamps are nummerous and largely non matching.
I believe the C arrow stamp (was stamped over with 'ENGLAND') is probably true to form but the others I'm just not sure about.
- Location
- Tucson, Arizona
Looking at it, the export stamp certainly was done after the Canadian stamp. So if it was surplussed out of the U.K. it would have to have commercial proofs as they are required for any firearm sold on the civillian market.
Proved for .303" cal ctg with a case length of 2.22".
I believe that when the No4 was issued to the Cdn Army in Britain their No1s were transferred to British stores. They were later surplused by Britain with the other No1s accounting for the "ENGLAND" stamp and commercial proofs.
Have seen similarily markrd SMLEs.
I believe that when the No4 was issued to the Cdn Army in Britain their No1s were transferred to British stores. They were later surplused by Britain with the other No1s accounting for the "ENGLAND" stamp and commercial proofs.
Have seen similarily markrd SMLEs.
