X Prefix No.4 Mk I - What is it?

RK99

RK99

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I've come across a BSA No.4 Mk I for sale that has a a serial number that's an X prefix with a 4 digit serial. I did a bit of googling but couokldn't find anything conclusive other than some jungle carbines had a X serial number and some later L2A1 in 7.62 had a X serial number? Amy insight into what this might be?
 
I have never seen one with an x but best I can say is that is a very early production. They did use single and double letters.
 
I also have one, completely scrubbed of all markings and stamped with an X serial number and the bayonet lugs very professionally machined off. Had a chap from the Gunboards forum mention that it may have at one time ended up in India, apparently they had a practice of scrubbing the rifles they FTR'd and would stamp them with their own serial number. Or possibly some sort of an experimental rifle.
 
The serial numbering system changed during the lifetime of production of the No. 4 rifle at BSA, with early rifles (1941 and 1942) having four digit numbers with or without a letter prefix, such as 0299, 1500, A2619 etc. By 1943 serial numbers consisted of a two-letter prefix followed by a four digit number. Interestingly the first letter of the prefix always seems to be A, with the second letter working its way through the alphabet e.g. AM4189, AR5185, AU6768 etc. It is thought that by New Year 1944 the AV range had been reached, as AV block rifles have been observed, some dated 1943 and some dated 1944. However early in 1944 serials changed again, to consist of five digit numbers starting with the number ‘3’ initially without, but thereafter with, a single letter prefix e.g. 31159, B30538, H37486, R31894. This system continued till the cessation of No. 4 rifle production at BSA, and the latest production block of ‘T’ conversions that we have encountered is the ‘X’ prefix block, dated 1945.
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Maybe something like this?
 
RK99 said:
I've come across a BSA No.4 Mk I for sale that has a a serial number that's an X prefix with a 4 digit serial. I did a bit of googling but couokldn't find anything conclusive other than some jungle carbines had a X serial number and some later L2A1 in 7.62 had a X serial number? Amy insight into what this might be?
Click to expand...

It's just a standard letter pre-fix in No4 production.
 
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