452a

BSA/GPT NO. I Mk III 'Wild Tiger Corps"

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:400.00 USD Estimated At:800.00 - 1,400.00 USD
BSA/GPT NO. I Mk III 'Wild Tiger Corps
SN: 902 .303 British. A Scarce Siamese rifle, In 1920 King Vajiravudh also know as Rama VI ordered from BSA 10,000 No1 Mk III* for his volunteer force "The Wild Tigers"- This force also included the Royal Bodyguard. They are pretty rare and almost impossible to find in good condition, this is apparently because most were destroyed during the Japanese invasion in WW2 and many others rotted away in the Jungle climate. On the right hand butt socket instead of the usual British Stamps there's the Wild Tiger's logo - a cute looking tiger face and the Siamese script "Rama VI Model 2462" which translates as the Buddhist year of 1919. This particular rifle has matching Siamese bolt to receiver.
The bolt has a Siamese script Serial number on the rear of the handle and the right chamber. It has the correct commercial BSA trademark on the barrel nox and the BSA commercial proof marks BM on the left chamber. Left stock socket is marked "BSA Co.".Has all the standard No. I Mk III features, unmarked brass disc. Slab sided, rounded type A cocking piece. Imported by GBT, St. Albans Vt, very small marking on left receiver rail. Bore is fair to good, strong rifling, dark frosting in the grooves, action is crisp, blue finish has dulled, but mostly all there, wood is sound, with the usual scratches/dings, there are several chips out of the upper wrist where it meets the socket. The lower handguard is a lighter color than the rest of the wood, and may be a later replacement. These rifle's keep going up in value. There is a second one of these in this auction from the same estate.
NRA Condition- Good. C&R Firearm.