Questions about my latest SMLE.

Picked up this 1918 BSA MkIII* today. All matching rifle, no import marks, blah blah. It has, and I'm not exaggerating, the nicest, shiniest bore of any SMLE that Ive owned. Barrel is marked '18 and is matching as well. Screws on trigger guard are STAKED, I doubt this rifle has ever been apart. '195' on top of buttplate and underside of buttstock. Rack number? Now, the main questions..what are the two screws on the right of the receiver? Have never seen these before, and they have certainly been there a while. Also, what is the significance of the silver paint on the forestock? First for me as well. Pics below..thoughts welcome!

Few more pics..........

Was fitted with a scope side mount .

It may have had a Parker Hale 16 fitted. If so you are in luck as they are reasonably common and fetch a lot less that the PH 5A sights. Just make sure you get a 16F which was for the SMLE. (According to my PH 1953 catalogue)
If anyone has a Parker Hale 16J please let me know as I'd love pictures of it and would like to buy one.

I kinda figured they were for a set of sights like that. Something else to look for!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Anzac15

what is the significance of the silver paint on the forestock?

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Had it been white paint, I would have said that it what was left of a DP mark.

Me too. But definitely silver, and no DP anywhere on the rifle. New to me.

Silver meant something akin to DP. It was war sub-standard.

WW1 or 2? I would guess 2?

---------- Post added at 06:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:54 PM ----------

It really needs a light cleaning, but I'm kinda hesitant about breaking that staked screw.

Not likely to be any of the PH10 or PH16 family.
The hole spacing on the 16F is only 1/2", the other sights with side mount are only 3/4" spacing, more likely to be one of the Field type scope mounts that also use the ejector screw hole.