Anyone able to identify these british barrels?

[Mustang]

I won an auction lot that contain a number of barrels, including these two. They look like Parker Hale 1200 or M82 target barrels to me, but I just guessing. Anyone able to help me out?

[kendog4570]

Those threads and tenons certainly look Mauserish, which the PH is. What is the diameter and threads per inch? Should be 1.1" and 12 tpi. How are the bores and throats?

[ARFrog]

Not sure of the specifics on your barrels. However, I was just given a rifle that was made in England that had the same crown logo over BNP stamped on the left side of the receiver. My guess from your photos would be that they are proof marks for English companies with the initials SP and BNP.

In my case, the English company, Saint Hubert Co, took Mauser actions reportedly made in Belgium and then either assembled the guns with other parts in England or imported them to a catalog distributor in Minnesota who assembled and sold rifles in the US. These were done in the 1960s and 1970s in many different calibers.

Good luck with your search for info OP.

[ARFrog]

Just ran across this:

BNP means British Nitro Proof. The number stamped close to the BNP. - in your case 20 - is the proof in tons.

The 'England', or crown stamp, means that it was there at sometime prior to arriving Stateside.

[pacrat]

Not sure of the specifics on your barrels. However, I was just given a rifle that was made in England that had the same crown logo over BNP stamped on the left side of the receiver. My guess from your photos would be that they are proof marks for English companies with the initials SP and BNP.

In my case, the English company, Saint Hubert Co, took Mauser actions reportedly made in Belgium and then either assembled the guns with other parts in England or imported them to a catalog distributor in Minnesota who assembled and sold rifles in the US. These were done in the 1960s and 1970s in many different calibers.

Good luck with your search for info OP.

FIFY ............... No need to guess. Those are BRITISH GOVERNMENT PROOF HOUSES. Not gun maker's marks. Over there, ALL firearms MUST be proofed by the government before offered for sale to the public.

For reference; https://www.nramuseum.org/media/940944/proofmarks.pdf

CROWN over >SP<
1868-1925 ... Birmingham ... voluntary special black powder proof

CROWN over >BNP<
since 1954 ... Birmingham ... definitive nitro proof for barrel and action

Mustang .............., I'm with kendog. Very Mauserish 98 LR look'n. Other than PH, possible BSA comes to mind. Along with multiple other British builders that used 98 actions.

[Toxic Shock]

A decade or so ago I remember seeing Parker-Hale barrels that looked just like those. If I'm not mistaken, the main difference between the PH receiver and the Mauser 98 was a different style of bolt stop/ejector housing. It's very likely that these will fit a large ring Mauser.

[Mustang]

Thanks, guys.

I'll go over the barrels carefully and measure them when they arrive.

[Mustang]

Those threads and tenons certainly look Mauserish, which the PH is. What is the diameter and threads per inch? Should be 1.1" and 12 tpi. How are the bores and throats?

The diameter and threads are 1.1" and 12 TPI.

The bores and throats look great. The muzzles are very tight...less than an "0" on my CMP muzzle gauge.



The barrels honestly look like they have never been mounted.

[Mustang]

FIFY ............... No need to guess. Those are BRITISH GOVERNMENT PROOF HOUSES. Not gun maker's marks. Over there, ALL firearms MUST be proofed by the government before offered for sale to the public.

For reference; https://www.nramuseum.org/media/940944/proofmarks.pdf

CROWN over >SP<
1868-1925 ... Birmingham ... voluntary special black powder proof

CROWN over >BNP<
since 1954 ... Birmingham ... definitive nitro proof for barrel and action

Mustang .............., I'm with kendog. Very Mauserish 98 LR look'n. Other than PH, possible BSA comes to mind. Along with multiple other British builders that used 98 actions.

I found the specs on the M82 barrel and these match them spec for spec.

Diameter at the muzzle--.905"
Length--26"
Muzzle is beveled 45 degrees on the edge.