P-14 MK-I* Serialed Rear Hand-guard

I bought a P-14 the other day and noticed that the rear hand-guard was serialed to the receiver.

Is there any significance to it at all? I only ask because a friend who knows his way around Brit arms a lot more than I do said he never seen it before in his stable of several P-14s.

That said none of his had the "fat" stock either so I don't know if that has anything to do with it or not. Thanks

I had one that the serial number stamped under the front of the stock. A bit unusual... Was an ERA too.

I've seen the rifle serial stamped on bottom of butt stock, as well as in front of trigger guard. While a serial on the rear handguard is new for me, it does not surprise too much.