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Consider this. May 1940, there was the mass evacuation of troops from Dunkirk. A huge amount of equipment was left behind. Rifles were in short supply. The factories were cranking them out as fast as they could. New rifles and rifles made up from new and recycled parts. Anything to get a serviceable rifle into the hands of the soldier to fight Germany. Dark days in England.
The rear sight leaf on your rifle has been recycled a couple of times before it was fitted to your rifle and renumbered. The old numbers from when it was on other rifles have been lined out to cancel them. So a new barrel was fitted to this WWI veteran and a good used rear sight fitted.
The sportered fore stock looks to be a later type than 1915, there is no provision in it with a cutout in the wood for a magazine cut off, so maybe the rifle was restocked too?. This rifle was quickly overhauled back to good as new in 1940. It would have been pressed into service right away and played a role in the downfall of Hitler.
This old war horse has probably taken, and no doubt given, a schmidt kicking in two world wars.
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Thanks again, everyone. You are all very knowledgeable. It's great to own a piece of history even without knowing exactly where it's been.
The bolt has a single mark on it but not a matching number. I can't tell what the marking is..
Dave
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I have seen this J before, sometimes JC and other markings. Not too sure as to what it is. Possibly a process or contractor's marking if the forging of the bolts was sub contracted out.
