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Hi Peter. Yes, I've seen that protective green paint applied to a lot of SMLE's over the years, although the No4 T I mentioned in posting #19 has had green paint daubed patchily over the woodwork, not the barrel or body. Not suggesting I've seen this commonly though - in fact I think it's the only 4T I've ever owned that came in like that.
ATB.
The green paint I'm referring to is not the same as the khaki paint that's quite commonly found on the underlying metal of many SMLE's.
Maybe it's one of the Canadian camouflaged rifles Brian! But seriously, any paint is a protective paint. Some of the 200 or so Brens seen recently seem to have been liberally dosed - or doused - or daubed with many different hues of green to khaki paint.
As a bit of an aside, it seems to have worked because on one 6T xxxx Bren body I was using as a fitting sample was daubed with the stuff. But where it wasn't painted, the original black had gone through to white metal. The point is that they weren't factory issue like this!
Years ago I had a 1943 No4(T) with green paint on the body and barrel. The butt was a replacement and stamped BWS 8/54 (can't be sure ofl the date now) A well-known authority ;) told me at the time that this meant overhaul at Base Workshops Singapore on the date given. Paint was a semi-gloss sort of finish and well worn.
BWS is definately the old WD code for Singapore Base Workshops......... Been there, done that!