Originally Posted by
Frederick303
To really give you an answer junkman, you must post the receiver ring and the serial numbers on that ring.
Most likely it is an Irish rifle, as most SMLE MK I *** rifles in the US of A are from this import lot. The expected serial numbers would be as follows:
CRxxxx (rebuild SMLE MK I*** rifles with mix of SMLE MK I and MK III forend features)
OR
ERxxxx (original SMLE MK I *** features)
OR
Gxxxx (grenade wrapped rifles, most with original SMLE MK I*** wood and fixtures)
This serial number would be on the bolt, receiver ring, barrel reinforce and in most cases on the nose cap. These numbers superseded the old serial numbers, which will be lined out.
Given that the front wood and nose cap are from a SMLE MK III, if it has CRxxxx on the receiver ring then it is an Irish rework. If it has either a ER or G prefix then it falls in a questionable status, as some of these rifles were made into sporting rifles in the 1960s, the forend being ruined. In the last ten years, folks seeking to restore these rifles have found that good SMLE MK I stocks are not common, and so in order to restore them they have had to rely on using more modern MKIII wood and metal bits.
One must say "questionable", as there are supposedly some rifles with a G or ER prefix that were later fitted with SMLE MKIII stocks when the MK 1 pattern forends broke at the middle band. I would expect it would be a lot more likely that the G prefix rifles fall in this category than ER rifles. The problem is that most such rifles out in circulation fall into the restored category, especially if the nose cap is not serial numbered to the action.
