Barrel marking on my '43 Maltby

Rambler · Post by **Rambler** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 6:36 pm

Under the rear upper on my Maltby, there is a marking which looks like a "B E" was attempted to be struck, but only the very inner edge of the letters appear (so that the "B" looks like a very abbreviated "3", if you follow me). The letters are much larger than any other markings on the rifle. Anyone know what these could mean? The obvious connotation is "British Empire," but I'd appreciate any informed opinions.

Thanks!

sunray · Post by **sunray** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 2:32 am

"...obvious connotation is "British Empire..." Definitely not. You need to post every marking on it.

Rambler · Post by **Rambler** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 2:52 pm

The rest of the markings I can make out are posted here: http://p102.ezboard.com/fparallaxscurio ... 7091.topic

brewstop · Post by **brewstop** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 3:22 pm

No4 barrels can have up to a dozen marks, and many are not identified. Anything that isn't a proof mark is most likely an inspection stamp - barrels would have been inspected several times during the manufacturing process. Individual factory inspectors probably often had a personal stamp that was known in that particular factory, but not part of any "official" marking system.

Your "BE" could be "Birmingham Examination", "Barrel Examined", "Bore Examined", "Breeching-up Examined",etc, etc...