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I need some info on a "Z" prefix serial number BSA. Any info on this would be appreciated. I can supply more pics if needed. It has a new fore stock and the original serial number has been overstruck. Hard to see from my pic but the old serial has an "H" prefix. Good bore with some darkness in the grooves. I'm hoping "Z" doesn't mean beyond repair.
Pcaru1, I have a similarly reserial numbered National Rifle Factory/1918 made SMLE III* in my collection. All of the original serial numbers were ground out on the receiver, barrel shank and bolt then restamped Z80886, though I think I can still see the vestiges of the letter "V" followed by 4 serial number digits. I suspect it may have something to do with the refurbishment of both our rifles. Mine still has the original '18 date barrel and NRF marked triggerguard. It appears the only thing that was done to my rifle was to grind out the old serial number, add the new serial number and reblue the weapon. Notice the '27 barrel date on your rifle--it was obviously refurbished. So, at the minimum, I speculate both our rifles had their original serial numbers scrapped/stricken from the rolls at rebuild and a new serial number assigned to the receiver, new barrel and bolt, effectively creating a brand new rifle from parts on hand, utilizing the "Z" prefix as a catchall serial number prefix for these rebuilt rifles. Your rifle is also marked as Irish Free State property--the FF in a circle. It is also conceivable this new serial number may thus have been added to the rifle by either the Irish (unlikely) or the rifle was POSSIBLY ASSIGNED a new serial number before shipment by RSAF to keep track of the weapon AFTER it left British stores and was sold to Ireland. Remember the new serial number prefixed by either a CR or ER stamped on the Irish issue SMLE Mark I*** rifles from the '20's? Why should this oddball "Z" prefix marking be any different in light of the previously noted British practice of renumbering rifles that were shipped to Ireland, a place the Brits continued to engage in a neverending clandestine war against the IRA and wanted to make damn certain the rifles they shipped to the Irish government didn't end up in Sinn Fein hands? Your rifle is likely one of the batch of SMLE's ordered shipped by Churchill's government to Ireland in 1941-42 so the Irish Free State could defend itself against potential Nazi aggression. No matter, it makes for some interesting speculation on this rifle's true provenance, doesn't it!
I'm willing to listen to other theories but that's my explanation.