WW1 Canadian 303BR cartridge headstamp Q

maple_leaf_eh

maple_leaf_eh

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I've come across a few WW1 dated .303BR cartridges with an additional marking. As well as the typical Canadian arsenal code, split year (19 on the left of the primer, and xx on the right side) and bullet code, is a small letter S in a circle. It is a distinct mark added after the case was made because the mark is on top of the other characters and not in a consistent place. What would an S marking signify?
 
green said:
IIRC it is a standard ctg.
Click to expand...

If it is a standard 'run of the mill' cartridge, why go to the bother of cycling the empty casing through another die? We know that any change would have been institutionalized with a new headstamp. In WW2 they just put the year (1944), arsenal (DI) and powder (Z). Some short runs were set aside for match use, and have an inked band or bands in various colours for levelling the competitive challenge. Could the S mean for use in synchronized aircraft machine guns?

I'll be closer to my references in a few days, but the question is gnawing at me!
 
OK, standard ctg loaded under lab conditions to give extremely uniform ballistics to compare with regular production. Sometimes IDed by extra S or S in circle in hs.
 
green said:
OK, standard ctg loaded under lab conditions to give extremely uniform ballistics to compare with regular production. Sometimes IDed by extra S or S in circle in hs.
Click to expand...

Ha ha ha! I guess I won't be firing those few off - just to see how consistent they are.

Two other suggestions from the big book on British production. (https://www.abebooks.co.uk/9780951292204/.303-inch-history-cartridge-British-095129220X/plp)
An S was used to indicate armour piercing. However, it looks like a very normal Mk VII ball cartridge. Or, an S overstamp indicated Special for something was nonstandard, which is reverse wording.

I'll go with the suggestion it is Special, but for deliberate consistency and not routine pi$$ing away in a standing snap shoot at 50-yds on the range.
 
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