Help! stamping what do they mean

[jerry]

Hi all, Today i was starting the cleaning process for the no.4 savage i am going to be restocking and i found some interesting stampings. These stampings are on the muzzle and bayonet lung. The stamping on the bayonet lung looks like a T that is stamped sideways so that if the rifle but would be on the floor the stamping would look like a t in the standing properly. On the muzzle the following is stamped 303.42.22" underneath that IP and something that looks like 18.5 tons. Does anyone know what this means?

As well it look as though the whole barrel as been painted with a red undercoating as a base does any have any suggestions as to how to remove this?

 

[tiriaq]

Those are commercial proof marks that were applied in the UK.

 

[jerry]

Thanks but arent there supposed to be markings on the breech as well? all the other .303 i have seen use to have them on the breech as well... though i admit my knowledge is limited.

 

[tiriaq]

There may well be more markings on the breech, but the 2.22" 18.5 T marks are British commercial. Probably applied after the rifle had been sold surplus, or when it was sported.

 

[woodchopper]

those markings when deciphered say

"send me to woodchopper"


but ya they are commercial proof marks

 

[John Sukey]

By British law, any firearm sold on the commercial market must be submitted to proof. That applies to military riflles surplused out by the government.

 

[jerry]

Well just finished stripping off the numerous layers of paint and well i found the brit proof mark on the breech. One of this rifles previous owners was very maticulous with his painting of the rifle, it took three hours to get it all off... he even painted the rear sight (f"#$"#$). On thursday i am gonna have her blued and in about a week and a half my stuff from numrich should arrive and the restocking will begin. I will send pics once i get a friend to take them.

 

[jerry]

Well she off to get reblued and beed blasted, can't wait to see the results. I also managed to find a no 4 mkII spike bayonet made by savage with the matching small s. Now in about a week the stock should arrive and the fun will begin. As soon as i have them i will post pics.