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I recently had the opportunity to handle two cutaways. A No.4 Mk1 with SKNXXXX serial number with the original number removed. The other one was a No.4 Mk1/2 without the SKN number--just the original number on the socket.
You have previously stated that armorer students made cutaways to demonstrate their capabilities.
Are cutaways without SKN numbers examples done by students?
Are cutaways with SKN numbers batch made under government contract by ordnance plants?
The SKN rifles done on contract were done by List and Co at Dagenham so not an Ordnance plant as such but an outside contractor, as were the skeletonised Brens and were all done to a laid down spec of course. Armourer apprentices would skeletonise all manner of things during their apprenticeship and later, during their 1st class course. It'd be a most reasonable assumption that those without the SKN serial number prefix were done elsewhere. It would also be reasonable to suggest that those not done to the skeletonise spec drawing, such as the full length ones were also done elsewhere.
My 1st class trade test group at the huge Base Workshops in Singapore skeletonised a dozen or so shot-out AR15's and a couple of tired L7A1/GPMG's that were then used as instructional aids for the next groups. Alas....., I don't think that there were any groups to follow us as we (the Australians, NZ'ers and Brits) were withdrawing soon in any case!
There is an urban exploration site called 28dayslater that has pictures of the inside of AJ Parker's premises some years after they ceased trading; there are loads of SKN action No4s just laying around rusting. I heard the premises have since been cleared, so anything pictured is no longer there.
Were some of them made by AJ Parker, or did Parker's just buy a load of them?
Report - - Alfred Parker Ltd Gunsmiths, Birmingham - June 2010 | 28DaysLater.co.uk
I would assume that they purchased a load of them. But that is only based on the fact that when some of them were offered for sale afterwards (still in pretty dire condition I'm told.....) they had the SKN serial numbers from the List contract.
I saw another load that were culled from the Cadets and TA from the South West district and some of those had the old ZZ-1234 and SA60-A12345 type 'lost number' serial numbers most commonly found on the old Berridge type 1" signal pistols
I wonder if these were the skeleton No4 rifles that were offered for sale by several U.K. dealers 2 or 3 years ago???
I have one that I got recently for £160 (without the magazine). It has an SKN serial number - but I'm not sure if it's a 'real' one. The bolt is not sectioned - so its a different bolt at a minimum. Mine also just has the SKN number on the receiver, with the original number struck out. I've seen another one for sale online that has proper engraving one the receiver that looks a bit more 'genuine' List. (It is about 3x the price of mine though!)
Mines the pic with no magazine - the other one is for sale currently online.
The body of yours certainly looks more original to me with the SKN number along the top of the body - where the drawing specified it. You need to section the trigger guard and let us see the other side before we could confirm it.
I don't know why they insist on slotting the chambers and body....... they have been deemed not to be firearms as defined in statute!
Here's the other side...
I hadn't noticed the trigger guard... Will have to cutaway that at the same time as slotting the bolt to see the spring...