No1 Mk3 Dispersal Rifle re-rebuild.

I bought this No1Mk3 in 2021 to rebuild. The forend had been thinned to nothing and it was missing parts. My first British boltgun. I bought the parts i needed and put it back together but never really liked it. I’ve always felt the bore was bad at the muzzle as my initial reloads were keyholes. It languished in my safe until last month when my cas club did a BAMM. I decided that I would use it but would cut it down 5 inches partially to get to good barrel and also to make it better looking and handier. Here it is.
Attachment 132991Attachment 132992

Yes, that's what I think the No 1 and No 4 should have been. Compact, easy to handle, sufficient length for accuracy, etc.

I did one years ago for a friend, cut it down and made a carbine. It turned out well though he never shot it. I last saw it being sold out of his estate at the Calgary gun show after the buyer was walking away with it...no pics, that was almost before cameras.

That one looks good, nice job.

Looks great. That shorter barrel adds even more to the "bullish" look of the old Smelly. Great!

Nice job. It does look attractive and handy.

There are more than a few floating around in Aussie.

I’ve had a couple. A couple years back there was one advertised in Australia for a premium price. The seller had it authenticated by a well known expert as being one of the rifles cut down post war and used in APC’s. Previous to him, I owned it and it had been cut down by the bloke I bought it from in his back yard shed. He didn’t want to know me and it sold for a very large amount of money.

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Originally Posted by Homer

I’ve had a couple. A couple years back there was one advertised in Australia for a premium price. The seller had it authenticated by a well known expert as being one of the rifles cut down post war and used in APC’s. Previous to him, I owned it and it had been cut down by the bloke I bought it from in his back yard shed. He didn’t want to know me and it sold for a very large amount of money.

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It is amazing how collectors will latch onto any good story that makes their rifle 'special'.

It seems that the Durban Police and the Zulu Forces must have been issued with far more rifles than they could ever us, but, it gives a rifle provenance to those that know no better, or have not researched the subject.
Caveat Emptor !