New to me SMLE

[LTR]

Hi All,

I just purchased this rifle from a fellow club member and I was wondering if any one might be able to provide some info about it. I have yet to shoot it. Bore looks quite nice. Seems to be missing a digit in the date of production, but I better just let the pics speak for themselves...

 

[zuke]

Look under the handguard around the chamber area, there will be more stamp's there

 

[LTR]

Thanks. I'll do that later today. In looking more closely at the year, looks like maybe the 1 was stamped too low. Last digit looks like a 5 to me but that impression also seems flawed. Never seen the 'horse' mark before either. Hopefully more info under the handguard...

 

[tiriaq]

I think you have one of the BSA rifles assembled from available parts during WW2.

 

[Eaglelord17]

Based on the star on your receiver it may have spent some time in Indonesia post-war, anyone else agree with that assessment?

 

[Pblatzz]

The rifle is a1943 ( they were litterally to rushed to put the 4 in) BSA dispersal rifle. The star is part of the model no1mkIII*. These rifles were made from parts in smaller companies that were all over the Birmingham area or farther. The German bombers had a harder time stopping production if it was dispersed all over the country. One factory goes down switch suppliers, etc.

Nice rifle btw.

Pete

 

[LTR]

I just posted another pic of the butt socket markings which might be a little clearer.

 

[LTR]

Thank you. Pete does the horse marking indicate a dispersal rifle?

 

[milsurpo]

Horse marking? Do you mean the poorly stamped "B" on the right cheek? That B (without S and A) is characteristic of the dispersal rifles. Still nominally a BSA product but different. Very nice rifle, much nicer than my dispersal rifle. I'd be curious to hear what the experts think of the forend. Might be a WW2 or later addition. Looks a bit to my eye like beech? Any stamps on left cheek?

milsurpo

 

[LTR]

LOL. Yes. That makes much more sense, although it still looks like a guy on a horse to me. Thank you milsurpo for cracking that mystery. Yup. I see it now. LOL.

 

[sunray]

Looks like there has been some grinding and re-stamping done. Check the headspace before you shoot it.
German bombers had bombed BSA flat in 1940.

 

[LTR]

Left side pic posted milsurpo. The bore looks unusually good to me. BTW, all numbers visible match, including stock and nose cap. There is no serial number on the mag.

 

[tiriaq]

You have a nice specimen of the very last SMLEs assembled in the UK.

 

[LTR]

Thanks guys. Your knowledge is much appreciated. A totally different history than I was expecting/hoping for, but an interesting and important story nonetheless.