SMLE No1 MkIII* Stock Disc Markings

[MrEd]

Hello all.

Racked my brains and searched online and in various books but can’t find an answer.

I have a 1918 BSA SMLE No1 MkIII* that has the following butt disc. I can’t confirm it’s original to the rifle but it certainly has been there a _long_ time.

On one side (the side facing out) it has ‘2’ and ‘VV’ (I thought they were As but there appears to be no cross bar). All I can find is ‘Victoria Volunteers’ which is an Australian Unit - the rifle has no Australian markings on it anywhere (that I can find).

 

 

on the back it has ‘RG & U & A’ with  ^ between the A and R. I don’t know which order to read these, are the characters definitely an A, R, G, U 2 x ‘&’ and either a V or ^ symbol? Couldn’t even tell you if they were stamped at the same time!

I have altered the contrast etc to make them a bit more clearer.

Could it be ARG as in Argyllshire? I found a reference to ARG being argyllshire mountain battery of the RGA?

Armour Replacement Group (a ww2 unit?)

no idea tbh.

The butt also has ‘79’ ‘P 63’ stamped into it and on the other side ‘239’ in big black paint (although faint)

 

anyone have any ideas what any of that could mean?

 

Thanks

Ed

Edited 20 September , 2022 by MrEd

[MrEd]

I still have been unable to find anything further. Apart from suggested. 
I am not to fussed, not even sure it’s original to the rifle tbh! So the VV marking could be Victorian Volunteers (an Australian marking) even though nothing else on the rifle is Australian marked. It could be replacement wood, or a spurious butt disc.

 

the ARG mark etc I have no idea, could be argyllshire but I really don’t know.

Edited 23 September , 2022 by MrEd