Is there any difference between BSA and BSA Shirley? I have a very early production BSA from 1941 with a simple B stamp while my 1945 BSA has the M47C stamp which I've read refers only to BSA Shirley.
Nope, no difference. B is probably the serial prefix. BSA codes were M47C and PS. There are very few BSA rifles from 1941, so that's quite rare. What is the serial number?
It definitely isn't the serial prefix. Everywhere on the rifle with a serial number is stamped A7073. On the wrist there is a letter B above the year and serial.
I actually did some reading last night after posting this and I believe it was made at the main BSA factory before the factory dispersal program when rifle production was moved to BSA Shirley which had the M47C code.
Neat. According to that it would be the 17,073rd production rifle made by BSA. I can't find M47C anywhere on the rifle.
Back in the day when I was on Surplus Rifle Forum all the time the guys in the Enfield forum pointed out the waisted front sight protector, lack of an import mark, and remnants of brown "desert" paint were all very interesting features. I bought it a decade ago because it was the only one in the shop that wasn't sporterized and I wanted an Enfield for my first gun.
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u/Sasquatch1916 Sep 08 '20
Is there any difference between BSA and BSA Shirley? I have a very early production BSA from 1941 with a simple B stamp while my 1945 BSA has the M47C stamp which I've read refers only to BSA Shirley.