ID 303 mark

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I'm curious what this mark denotes on the top of the receiver of my 1913 SMLE.
It looks like a little flower or star.
303004.jpg
 
It's a BSA with an = sign crudely marked beside the III. Smellie and Buffdog have already given me the history of this rifle, but I never did post a pic of this mark for some reason.
303 006.jpg
 

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The CANCEL mark was a dash, usually with a small dot in the middle. It was used for cancelling other markings.

The SALE MARK, signifying that the rifle was legally Sold Out of Service while they still were being issued, was two BROAD ARROWS, point-to-point.

This looks like a Sale Mark which has been Cancelled: something I have never seen before.

POSSIBLY the rifle was up for legal sale, then was recalled for Service, likely when the Second War was, at last, recognised to be inevitable. Britain was demilitarising, selling, giving away and destroying First World War equipment up until late 1937, as far as I can find out, and possibly even later. Nobody wanted to upset that nice Mister Hitler, who had been re-arming like crazy since about January 31, 1933; he became Reichskanzler (Prime Minister) on January 30.

This would fit with the other markings on the rifle, I think. Besides, it is the only solution I can think of. As a single marking, this one isn't in any of my books, not even TBSA - 1909, which is about as complete as they come.

The = sign right beside the III would indicate that the rifle was converted to III* configuration at some time. This was generally done to Mark III rifles when they came in for servicing and rebuilds from about mid-1916 onward. AFTER the end of the Great War, the standard reverted to the III, which meant that rifles with the cutoff slot got their cutoffs back, along with volley sights nd the appropriate woodwork. So it was a Mark III rifle, converted to Mark III* (removal of the cutoff and volley sights), restored to Mark III* status...... at which time the = was stamped on, CANCELLING THE *. The = was only used for cacelling the *; anything else needing cancelling got the Cancel Mark (_._) or a series of //// to blot out old numbers. You see this often on the backs of rear-sight leaves, nose-caps etc., when they were refitted to a different rifle during rework.

Hope this helps.
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Thanks Smellie. You and others have already helped me out with this one before. It's definitely a weird duck. I have a Mosin with a mark on it no one has ever seen before also. I've had the same luck with women.
 
Thanks Smellie. You and others have already helped me out with this one before. It's definitely a weird duck. I have a Mosin with a mark on it no one has ever seen before also. I've had the same luck with women.
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Your Women are stamped with unidentifiable marks that no one has seen before?

--- Maybe something like a Government Inspection stamp on Beef? --- Grade A?

:needPics:

......:):):):):)......

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I have to go with SMELLIE on this one. An Sale mark is usually six pointed or two broad arrows back to back forming a star. This is eight sided as mentioned and looks like a cancellation mark was added.
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The stamp is a marijuana leaf. It indicates the rifle was issued to someone near
Vancouver. The barrel and condition of the action should be like new, however if you remove the stock for inspection, you may find a large build up of crumbs from Twinkies and potato chips.
 
beat me to it Warren..interesting that the pull through hemp cord could really wear out the muzzle ..BTW did you ever check to see who made your bren gun machine rest my old one was standard machine and tool in windser
 
The stamp is a marijuana leaf. It indicates the rifle was issued to someone near
Vancouver. The barrel and condition of the action should be like new, however if you remove the stock for inspection, you may find a large build up of crumbs from Twinkies and potato chips.

Yes, that is it...the "Snowboarder Battalion". They usually forget why they on the battlefield, thus the munchies!!!
Why do you think they call their field the "Half Pipe"????????

Thanks for posting that.
 
If it was issued around Vancouver, there could well be a buildup of tar in the barrel.

In 'Nam it was called "shotgunning" but there had to be an earlier version of it.;-)

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As to cord-worn barrels, yes, the pullthrough could do a lot of damage if you weren't careful. This is the first cord-wear marking I have seen on the Body of the rifle, although I have seen them on the Barrel. Generally, the marking should have been cancelled when a new barrel was installed.

Sorry for missing this one. Bad me.
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Thanks for the help guys. The bore near the muzzle is rather worn compared to the rest of the barrel. Man, this is the Milsurp that just keeps giving. I haven't had it to the range lately but should make it out tomorrow.
 
As to cord-worn barrels, yes, the pullthrough could do a lot of damage if you weren't careful. This is the first cord-wear marking I have seen on the Body of the rifle, although I have seen them on the Barrel. Generally, the marking should have been cancelled when a new barrel was installed.

Sorry for missing this one. Bad me.
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Would have this mark been stamped on a receiver where the muzzle had been counter-bored at an armory?
I recall an India made #1 that had the muzzle bored out which I beleive may have been done to repair the damage as mentioned above.
Am I correct on this???
 
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