No1 Mk3 BSA receiver markings

[Johan412th]

I was cleaning my BSA mk3 today, and I noticed these markings on the left side of the receiver, near the barrel. Anyone know what they mean? I would assume some arsenal markings, or proof marks, as this rifle still has a very nice finish on it for being a rifle 99 years old.
image.jpg

[JB White]

Markings are partially obliterated due to the refinish. However they are fairly typical of a proof mark, view markings, a MkVII ball marking, and what appears to be an Australian property marking hidden beneath the scope mount. First impression was a DP mark but it looks as though there is a broad arrow within the D?

[Johan412th]

It's actually a rectangle/square with an arrow through it. Mean anything to you?

[JB White]

A small rectangle or a rectangle with a letter would mean something in a different application. However yours looks to be a large upper case D with serifs containing a broad arrow. The front part of the D hidden below the scope mount.

If it's truly a square or a rectangle with serifs and an arrow....meaningless to this old boy.

[Sunray]

Yep. Proof and acceptance stamps. The L over the P in the crossed flags is Lithgow, Australia.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=284441458249573&set=a.127563487270705.20509.122481937778860&type=1&ref=nf

http://www.marstar.ca/html/reflibrary/LeeEnfieldManufacturerMarks.html

[Johan412th]

So that's the question, why did Australia have it? I've heard that they were short on sniper rifles at the onset of the Second World War, so they scoped a bunch of no1 mk3's, as well as pressed a bunch of civilian rifles into service. But I really doubt this is one of those rifles.

[5Batt]

It's a arrow inside a D & is a early Australian ownership stamp, the other 2 below that are proof stamps (English & Australian) & the lower stamp is an BSA inspection stamp.

[JB White]

Australia got ahold of a lot of British-made SMLE's as repayment for arms sent to fullfil the UK's wartime demands
Sorry to tell you yours is not a sniper rifle. It's simply a surplus rifle someone recently mounted a commercial base and scope to.

[Johan412th]

Yeah, that idiot that mounted the scope base was me. Trying to see how accurate and how far out this rifle goes. I bought the no4 explicitly for scoping, and I still like my BSA better. And as for the aussie markings, that's just plain awesome. This rifle must have gone everywhere. Alas, not a sniper, but still world travelled.