Perculiar finish

[Enfieldlock]

Did our Australian cousins have a special finishing process for SMLEs? I have a BSA 1912 Mark III that appears to have been dipped in something. There is a definite tide mark on the barrel where the rear sight assembly lies. Behind that point all the blue has disappeard and turned a grey colour. The same has occured on the nose cap and bolt handle. Bleach??

[jona]

When the Lithgows were imported from Oz, many had colored stripes on them(for cadet use and condition designation). The importer felt this detracted from their value, so removed the stripes by dipping the affected areas into stripper without bothering to take the painted parts off first. The stripper also affected the wood and the metal finish, and that is what you are seeing.

[Donzi]

When the Lithgows were imported from Oz, many had colored stripes on them(for cadet use and condition designation). The importer felt this detracted from their value, so removed the stripes by dipping the affected areas into stripper without bothering to take the painted parts off first. The stripper also affected the wood and the metal finish, and that is what you are seeing.

Boy, that must have been Century. I can't think of another outfit dumb enough to do that.
Donzi

[jona]

The ones I saw were J.J.Jovino.

[BEAR]

Anyone know anything about this importer:

Alpha Leb. Oh.

It is stamped on the barrel under the top handguard of a No1 MkIII SMLE dispersal rifle.

I assume it stands for Alpha Importers of Lebannon, Ohio.

TIA
BEAR

[jona]

That is the mark for Southern Ohio Gun, SOG. They are still in business.

[BEAR]

Thanks for the info.

BEAR

[John Sukey]

Green; completly serviceable
Yellow; Yes you can fire ball ammo in it , but not the same quality as the green ones
Red. Don't even THINK of getting a live round anywhere near it.

Now if it came out of India, the DP mark is red/white/red spaint on the reciever and magazine

British; White stripes on butt and forend