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Well, there's several post-1904 proof marks observable in the 2nd photograph.

BUT, unless it is on the other side of the barrel, along with the words NITRO PROVED (effective 1904), there's no Crown/BM mark, which came into effect in 1916.

On the other hand, there is no LEE SPEED PATENTS or the LS patent use number on the right action strap, nor on the bolt head.

Interesting.

Was perhaps B.S.A.Co., the real manufacturer & seller of the rifle, exempt from the patent use marking requirement that mere retailers had to abide by, as a result of its manufacture of the rifles & employment of Mister Speed?

As an aside, I have 2 virtually identical No. 1 Pattern rifles, the first an Army & Navy CSL marked & marketed rifle, which carries the LEE SPEED PATENTS & patent use number, marked above & below the B.S.A.Co. name on the right action strap, along with the bolt head & safety patent markings, the rib carrying the A&N name in a ribbon on the rib engine-turning ahead of the FOR CORDITE ONLY warning; the second a B.S.A. Co. retailed rifle (same engine-turned barrel rib, same FOR CORDITE ONLY warning, but with an empty space in the retailer's name ribbon bar), but which carries no patent use marks, and only B.S.A.Co. on the action strap. Incidentally, the B.S.A.Co. rifle has more substantial engraving on it, compared to the A & N, which is quite well-engraved. The B.S.A.Co. rifle also has, at the very bottom of the left action strap in very small stamped letters/numbers, No. 1 S.R., which, I presume, identifies it as a Number 1 Pattern Sporting Rifle, as shown in their 1908 catalogue. As well, the B.S.A.Co. has a rifle bolt handle, while the A&N has a carbine bolt handle, BUT both rifles are built on the carbine action, although neither is fitted with a carbine magazine. Rather, they both carry the typical 5 round "fish-belly" magazine. The matching 4 digit serial numbers on the bottom of the barrel & receiver where they mate, are quite near one another.

I did have another identical rifle that had the same NO. 1 S.R. marking, an Andrews-retailed rifle, that had no LS patent marking, nor B.S.A.Co. for that matter. You could, however, see where those letters had been engraved over with bouquets and scrolls.

CURIOUSER & CURIOUSER!

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