303 Headstamp ID "A42"

[Isfield Finder]

I recently found a 303 casing with the headstamp "R^L IV A42".

I believe this to be a Royal Laboratory MkIV made 303 but Would anyone know what "A42" means?

I assume 42 to be the year but the A has me stumped !

[Dave The Slave]

Hi , are you able to post a photo ?
There are a couple of Military experts, who could probably give a precise ID , in addition to what you have already found out.
Cheers,
Dave.

[Isfield Finder]

….unfortunately the casing is very badly corroded and the headstamp is unclear (not helped by my attempt at a cleanup )....maybe there are some other stamps that I cannot distinguish? However, the last three characters "A42" are quite readable. Many thanks.

[MilitaryMetalMagnut]

Interesting, seems a bit of a mystery! As you say, ‘R /|\ L’ for Royal Laboratories, Woolwich and the ‘42’ for 1942.

I’ve never heard of or seen an ‘A’ prefix to the year, so has me stumped, too! ‘IV’ is for a MkIV ‘ball’ round (as there’s no letter code for a type before the Roman numeral). However, the MkIV was only made between about 1900-10, 1942 is much too late for that version.

Could we see a picture of the headstamp?

Best regards,

Simon

[RRPG]

As MMM has pointed out, the 'A' is not a known stamp for the 303. AA was, but this is a very rare incendiary round and unlikely to be what you have.

If the R /|\ L is correct, (Royal Labs, Woolwich), then the 'A42' is far more likely to be a badly corroded or damaged '9' as the cartridge manufacturers were still using a four digit code in 1942. This being the case, the 'A42' is actually 1942 but the one has disappeared beneath corrosion and the 9 looks like an A. The only other explanation is that you haven't got a 303, but something else. However, without a picture we cannot help!

As for the 'IV' stamp, this is simply not possible in a cartridge case dated 1942 as MMM has pointed out. I believe you may be looking at it upside down and it is actually WI, or Mk I armour piercing.

So......what I'm trying to get round to saying in a polite as way as possible is.....you're reading it wrong!

Have another look and let us know.

RRPG