84mmcarl-gustav
Regular
- Location
- Québec,Montréal
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Last edited:
SMLE No. 1 Mk III* Enfield 1917. Canadian C-broad-arrow marked on the receiver, knox
- Thread starter 84mmcarl-gustav
- Start date
- Location
- Smithers, B.C.
Wow. Canadian Marked, yes. However, one thing, that arm looks like either Sicilian or Morrocan service... Interesting...I haven't seen anything like that, possibly one of the other hispano-muslim countries, the markings look quite similar.
There is a lot of information to be found in proofmarks, but often not a great deal in military arms. British and Belgian arms are the exceptions, generally.
In most European countries, the local Proof laws provide for the testing of military arms for local use, but also provides for them NOT being marked. Thus, a lot of them (Italian guns made for Italy, Austrian made for Austria, et cetera) will not provide the wealth of information that you can glean from British rifles, as the best example. Guns for export sale are another matter and Italian, for a great example, are marked most thoroughly.
British proof law provides for EVERY arm made being proofed, either at the proof-house in London originally operated by the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers, or the House in Birmingham... AND marked thoroughly. And this includes military small-arms, even for local use. They are ALL marked... and we can learn from the markings. And it's fun, too!
This rifle was made in England and issued to some Canadian formation during the Great War, then likely used again by our military during the Second World War, then sold off for surplus to make room for Number 4 Rifles in the storage facilities.
It is a relic from those days, so very, very long ago, when the Government of Canada trusted the Citizens of Canada to possess the same military firearms for which the Citizens had paid, once they no longer were required for military service.
What a strange world that must have been.... just imagine it: low taxes, little government interference in your personal affairs and a national economy that was not perpetually staggering from one 'temporary recession' to the next, shepherded the whole while by a veritable army of Government bureaucrats. (Canada today has more TAX COLLECTORS than it has Army, Navy and Air Force combined.)
If only these old things could talk!
Enjoy your toy! She's been there, done that, and she's still here to enjoy, 93 years down the road. Can't say that for the FALs that a lot of us packed around!
(PS: This is my 1,000th post on CGN. If I understand the rules correctly, I now explode into little bits and waft away in the evening breeze. We'll find out!)
In most European countries, the local Proof laws provide for the testing of military arms for local use, but also provides for them NOT being marked. Thus, a lot of them (Italian guns made for Italy, Austrian made for Austria, et cetera) will not provide the wealth of information that you can glean from British rifles, as the best example. Guns for export sale are another matter and Italian, for a great example, are marked most thoroughly.
British proof law provides for EVERY arm made being proofed, either at the proof-house in London originally operated by the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers, or the House in Birmingham... AND marked thoroughly. And this includes military small-arms, even for local use. They are ALL marked... and we can learn from the markings. And it's fun, too!
This rifle was made in England and issued to some Canadian formation during the Great War, then likely used again by our military during the Second World War, then sold off for surplus to make room for Number 4 Rifles in the storage facilities.
It is a relic from those days, so very, very long ago, when the Government of Canada trusted the Citizens of Canada to possess the same military firearms for which the Citizens had paid, once they no longer were required for military service.
What a strange world that must have been.... just imagine it: low taxes, little government interference in your personal affairs and a national economy that was not perpetually staggering from one 'temporary recession' to the next, shepherded the whole while by a veritable army of Government bureaucrats. (Canada today has more TAX COLLECTORS than it has Army, Navy and Air Force combined.)
If only these old things could talk!
Enjoy your toy! She's been there, done that, and she's still here to enjoy, 93 years down the road. Can't say that for the FALs that a lot of us packed around!
(PS: This is my 1,000th post on CGN. If I understand the rules correctly, I now explode into little bits and waft away in the evening breeze. We'll find out!)
