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No 1 Mk3 Identification Help

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Halsey View Drop Down
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    Posted: December 21 2018 at 9:55pm
he!!o! My dad has had a .303 rifle for a very long time that he recently asked for my help to identify. I'll be able to take some pictures soon. What I noticed, is there is a Broad Arrow marking in several places, with a large "U" around it. There's no date stamp, and on the stock band behind the action it says "BSA Co".

Under the stock, on the bottom side of the barrel, it has many numbers with a "v" above all of them. The numbers are 25, 23, 6, and 43.

It has several "BM" markings with a crown. And the 3 rifle "tepee" stamp of BSA.

On the right hand side it says C.A.I. ST ALB V.T.

The serial number is 57700. On the bolt, the number is 67700. I almost wonder if it was stamped incorrectly.

Thank you for your help! I'll get pictures as soon as I can!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote hoadie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 22 2018 at 2:38am
I believe it was imported by Century Arms in St.Albans Vermont

If you provide some pictures, we could help better.

Also, please clarify your location on your member's profile. It will be of help to you in future.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Goosic Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 22 2018 at 7:23am
Pictures will be very beneficial in regards to what hoadie has stated. The broad arrow inside the U is indicative of a rifle that was sent to South Africa.
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Halsey View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Halsey Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 22 2018 at 7:34am
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Halsey Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 22 2018 at 7:36am
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Halsey Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 22 2018 at 7:40am
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Halsey Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 22 2018 at 7:41am
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Halsey Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 22 2018 at 7:43am
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Halsey Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 22 2018 at 7:45am
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Halsey Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 22 2018 at 7:47am
Sorry about the multiple posts. My phone wouldn't let me add more than one picture per reply. Any idea on the year? I noticed other No.1 Mk3 show the year on the steel band between the stock pieces. I don't see any year on this anywhere. 

Thanks for the responses!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 22 2018 at 8:37am
A BSA made No1 MkIII commercial rifle that somehow ended up in South African Military service!
Sported at some later point.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote A square 10 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 22 2018 at 8:54am
it looks like the buttstock had some arsenal repairs and correct me if i am wrong is there weld on the lower receiver in that third photo down ? 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Goosic Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 22 2018 at 9:11am
I enhanced the photo.  Alot of build up...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote englishman_ca Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 22 2018 at 7:18pm
The rifle is a commercial version of the military Sht.LE Mk.III* rifle made for the South African Govt that has subsequently been modified into a hunting rifle post service. Commercial rifles don't carry the Royal Cipher, maker  and date of manufacture on the right wrist as do the military versions.


The crown BM marking denotes Birmingham Military proof, in that the rifle was tested to the same proof specs as that of a military arm. This marking was used 1916 onwards, so that helps date the rifle. 

The butt stock is probably not original to this rifle. I think the butt is WWI vintage and was made by RSAF Enfield. The butt stock extension and blanked off disc inlet are factory done. Is the extension fitted to the body of the stock with a neat vertical dovetail joint?

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Halsey Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 23 2018 at 5:37pm
Thanks a ton for the info everyone! That's extremely interesting...

And yes, the stock extension is very nicely done with a dovetail.

Its intriguing to think why the rifle stock was replaced, and how it made it's way to the States from South Africa!

Why were the stock extensions fitted?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote englishman_ca Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 24 2018 at 3:42pm
This is a very fuzzy version of the story on the butt stocks. I dont have my notes to refer to and my memory sucks these days, but this is the gist of it. As I understand, fairly early on in the production of the Sht.LE, the factory did an update to the standard lengths of butt stocks that were fitted to rifles. The normal became a short, the long became normal and there was a new long one. Somewhere in there was an extra short one called 'bantam'. 

Fast forward to WWI. 1916. Production for the war effort is in full swing. Parts are pooled and stockpiled at RSAF Enfield upon which any of the major manufacturers could draw to keep production going. There was a shortage of 'normal' length butt stocks, but a large inventory of extra short ones in stores. So..... some of the extra short stocks had the end section with the butt plate inletting cut off in the Enfield wood shop and then machined up to take an added extension. Plugging the obscolete marking disc hole brought it up to 'normal' butt specs. It was used in regular production, and the rifles upon which they are found seem to be quite random.
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