Lee-Enfield marking identification

[Speedy3570]

Hey all,

I joined up a while back hoping to get into my first milsurp and I’ve finally managed to pick one up. It’s a no 1 mk 3* and I’m trying to figure out what one of the prominent markings means. I’m hoping one of the experts on here can chime in.

If anyone knows the meaning of this V is, I’d be happy if you could shed some light on it for
me. Thanks very much.

 

[Edburns117]

Hey that’s a great gun to start with! I’m no expert but will help if I can. For me your picture is not coming in and might be the same for others. Where is the mark located?

 

[tiriaq]

The mark is on the flat on top of the barrel breech. Visible in the rear handguard cut out.

 

[Speedy3570]

Sorry about the link. Here it is directly.

https://m.imgur.com/a/R7LkOB1

It has the broad arrow in a C and a British proof mark but I can’t find anywhere what that awkward V might be.

 

[tiriaq]

It doesn't appear to be the /l of a badly struck /l\.

 

[Speedy3570]

I had that thought too but it’s so distinctive and even it does seem deliberate. I posted a similar question to r/canadaguns and someone there just replied that it’s a government acceptance mark. Weird. Haven’t seen it on any other rifles. Still curious.

 

[BadgerDog]

Jay Currah's Lee-Enfield Rifle Websitehttps://www.milsurps.com/enfield.php

 

[Speedy3570]

Very cool website - new to me. Don’t see the /| marking anywhere in the guide though.

 

[Edburns117]

What year and manufacture is the rifle? Lithgow inspectors would stamp an “A” I believe. I’m not sure if this is the case for your mark because it’s missing the cross piece in the “A” and would have been stamped on a slight angle. I’m very curious as to what this mark is as well, I looked and none of my guns have it. They’re Ishapore and BSA

 

[Old Albertan]

It could be an inspector's mark but the assymetrical nature of it leads me to think it is a poorly stamped broad arrow.

 

[Speedy3570]

It’s a 1917 from RSAF Enfield. The only other markings visible without taking it apart are the British proof mark and C broad arrows. No import markings. I’m told it went from the Canadian government to Italy where its sat in cosmoline for like 70 years.

 

[Speedy3570]

It’s just weird. Like you’d expect a faint hint of the rest of the arrow or for it to be deeper on the side where it’s imprinted.

 

[PinkyPlinker]

It’s a 1917 from RSAF Enfield. The only other markings visible without taking it apart are the British proof mark and C broad arrows. No import markings. I’m told it went from the Canadian government to Italy where its sat in cosmoline for like 70 years.

I have one of those No1s from that Italian batch. I think it also has a V in the same spot. I’ll check when I get home. Mine is a 1940s BSA made dispersal.

 

[Speedy3570]

Cool. Let me know. Hopefully someone can chime in and sort us out.

 

[PinkyPlinker]

Yup, same mark. Maybe Martin at Corwin might be able to comment if this is a mark common to that Italian navy batch...
This is on my 1940 BSA dispersal. So marking applied no earlier than that on this gun. We know both guns were property of Canada at one point, then property of Italy.