No1 enfield date ID
- Thread starter JTF#
- Start date
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There could be a two number date stamped on the barrel --eg 17---. While this is not a positive date of manufacture, it could be, or it could also be the date of a rebarrel.
The serial number on the barrel and action can also give a clue as to when it was made, and by whom.
Questions like this should always be accompanied by good clear pictures of any markings, or even scrubbed markings on the firearm.
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There could be a two number date stamped on the barrel --eg 17---. While this is not a positive date of manufacture, it could be, or it could also be the date of a rebarrel.
The serial number on the barrel and action can also give a clue as to when it was made, and by whom.
Questions like this should always be accompanied by good clear pictures of any markings, or even scrubbed markings on the firearm.
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Are you speaking of the butt socket or the bands holding the wood on the barrel ?????
The number on a Lee Enfield band is normally an inspectors number under a crown. The bands that were often marked were German WW I and a few other belligerents during WW I
You will/should also find the date on the barrel: usually just two digits with a hyphen
The number on a Lee Enfield band is normally an inspectors number under a crown. The bands that were often marked were German WW I and a few other belligerents during WW I
You will/should also find the date on the barrel: usually just two digits with a hyphen
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- Location
- Beaverlodge, Alberta
You can also find them where there is ok date but because of manufacturer you can positively say it was made at this year. I have an un dated NRF but because they were only built in 1918 it's positively a 1918
- Location
- Beaverlodge, Alberta
Just a guess but BSA rebarreled at Ishaphore in 1942? Possibly saw action in Burma, again a guess by the green paint
RememberTheSomme
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nova Scotia
Pig looks like a '42 stamped barrel, but does the receiver look like a '43 stamped over the BSA and GR grind out to you?? What would the reasoning be to remove the Imperial Cypher during the war if it was just rebarreled or FTR'd in '43. I can see them doing the grinding out of the GR after Independence in 1947, but again I'm only stabbing in the dark, I know very very little on these. I wouldn't have posted at all except for so few posts on this.
Looks to me like a very-very-very-hurry-up 1943 built by BSA: one of the last made.
Poor markings and factory designated only by the "B" are often seen on very late ones: secrecy, what, as if Jerry didn't know what he was bombing.
Crown GP markings are post-War, proof at London Proof House before it could be sold on the civilian market.
Poor old girl has been around and deserves some respect.
S/N is properly 39209M, BSA, 1943.
Poor markings and factory designated only by the "B" are often seen on very late ones: secrecy, what, as if Jerry didn't know what he was bombing.
Crown GP markings are post-War, proof at London Proof House before it could be sold on the civilian market.
Poor old girl has been around and deserves some respect.
S/N is properly 39209M, BSA, 1943.
- Location
- Beaverlodge, Alberta
It does but isn't the barrel dated when it is installed not manufactured?
Maybe it's like Smellie says, it's a get it out the door dispersal rifle. The green paint was an anti-corrosion measure meant to keep the rifles in the field and out of the armoury so it being there makes sense as well. I also noticed the paint is not present in the proof markings. I just don't understand the grinding on the bolt and receiver. Seems like a very Indian thing to do to me. (on another look it doesn't look like grinding, just a light trike on the receiver and rough machining on the bolt?)
Perhaps the rifle was assembled and never had the receiver dated at the factory and was later dated on a trip to an armourer's bench? Interesting rifle! I don't know a whole bunch either, but it sure is fun to guess on some of these old girls...
Maybe it's like Smellie says, it's a get it out the door dispersal rifle. The green paint was an anti-corrosion measure meant to keep the rifles in the field and out of the armoury so it being there makes sense as well. I also noticed the paint is not present in the proof markings. I just don't understand the grinding on the bolt and receiver. Seems like a very Indian thing to do to me. (on another look it doesn't look like grinding, just a light trike on the receiver and rough machining on the bolt?)
Perhaps the rifle was assembled and never had the receiver dated at the factory and was later dated on a trip to an armourer's bench? Interesting rifle! I don't know a whole bunch either, but it sure is fun to guess on some of these old girls...
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It would be interesting to put a time machine into the factory and see just what did go on.
Yes, barrel date is supposed to be installation, but I am willing to bet 50 cents that hey tried to stay ahead of things and dated 'em up a bunch in advance. So along comes January 2 and they have a pil of barrels dated 2 days ago ("last year"). What to do? Send them for scrap? Or use 'em up in the next week or so?
Consider the forging, the drawing, the turning, the straightening, drilling, boring, reaming, FORTY passes down the rifling-bench including EIGHT hand adjustments of the Box-Cutter, gauging, chambering and inspecting at each and every stage...... Are YOU gonna trash it because it's dated 2 days ago?
I have run into this before. To me it says a January rifle, but I could be wrong.
Hope this helps.
Yes, barrel date is supposed to be installation, but I am willing to bet 50 cents that hey tried to stay ahead of things and dated 'em up a bunch in advance. So along comes January 2 and they have a pil of barrels dated 2 days ago ("last year"). What to do? Send them for scrap? Or use 'em up in the next week or so?
Consider the forging, the drawing, the turning, the straightening, drilling, boring, reaming, FORTY passes down the rifling-bench including EIGHT hand adjustments of the Box-Cutter, gauging, chambering and inspecting at each and every stage...... Are YOU gonna trash it because it's dated 2 days ago?
I have run into this before. To me it says a January rifle, but I could be wrong.
Hope this helps.
