Nasty old No.1 Mk. 3

[kjohn]

I scooped a real dirty old 1913 BSA SMLE on Saturday. Interesting stampings all over it. This one is particularly interesting. Anyone know what it means?

It is stamped on the barrel flat.
View attachment 19409

 

[Corps]

2nd Military District (Eastern Command, New South Wales, Australia)

Your rifle was used by people from the land down under.

 

[kjohn]

Thank you! The poor old thing has been around, for sure. I will try to get some clear pics of the other stampings and post on this thread.

 

[sunray]

It have Aussie ownership stamps on it too? Similar to this A/\F.

 

[kjohn]

Here's some more good stuff from the old rifle, found on the backside of the sight ladder:

View attachment 19422

 

[Dogfish858]

EFD may be Enfield.

 

[kjohn]

Another one, one is a digital negative:

View attachment 19423View attachment 19424

 

[Corps]

EFD is Enfield. The ''D + broad arrow'' is an Australian Defence Department marking from WW1 to the early 20s.

 

[kjohn]

Thanks again! It appears to have been re-numbered somewhere along the line, but the bolt and the nose cap do match what appears to be the original serial number. 6354 looks to be a number from later on.

 

[HarryD]

Not re serial numbered. The second number is the inventory number applied when it was issued to the 2nd Military District.

 

[chook]

Would LOVE to see the complete rifle in pictures. Could you post some? Sounds like a fantastic piece of history!

 

[kjohn]

Here she is, in all her glory! Also included a shot of an "HV" on the stock.

View attachment 19429View attachment 19430

 

[chook]

What a GORGEOUS old Warhorse! Such history, made on the eve of the first world war. Wow. You are one lucky man!

 

[Corps]

Here she is, in all her glory! Also included a shot of an "HV" on the stock.

It means it was sighted for Mark VII high velocity ammunition.

Looks neat!

 

[HarryD]

The HV is interesting. My 1912 BSA's dont have it. Was it applied to all production or was it applied by Australians to identify it as being sighted for MkVII when all Lithgow production was sightrd for MkVI?

 

[kjohn]

The HV is interesting. My 1912 BSA's dont have it. Was it applied to all production or was it applied by Australians to identify it as being sighted for MkVII when all Lithgow production was sightrd for MkVI?

This is on the barrel:

View attachment 19431

 

[HarryD]

The HV is interesting. My 1912 BSA's dont have it. Was it applied to all production or was it applied by Australians to identify it as being sighted for MkVII when all Lithgow production was sightrd for MkVI?

Sorry. To be more clear, I mean the HV stamp on the butt.