german marked SMLE (real or fake?)

[bearhunter]

Please don't take this as a bash to anybody on this site. I know the seller is honest. He didn't stamp the rifle. I also understand, from talking to another potential buyer, that he got the full story behind the rifle. It came in with virtually a warehouse full of other rifles, packaged in the usual way, I would suspect on pallets.
Ask yourselves why a man that has access to thousands of rifles, would bother to stamp up a fake?Why, knowing the situation among collectors, would he even try to pass one off as original and ruin an otherwise stellar reputation? He sees and has enough oddities and rarities, that it just isn't worth the bother.
I, personally think the rifle, is a bit pricey but that's just IMHO, as is my opinion of the rifle.

I've been pouring through my books to find that stamp on the stock. I can't find it. I have a nagging memory that it is a border police stamp. I just don't remember where I saw it.

One thing you can rule out, that impression wasn't made with a badge. For one thing, it's seasoned coachwood, which is as tough and maybe tougher than walnut. Badges are made from soft metals, that would collapse, before it came anywhere near making such a sharp, deep impression.

If I had the dollars and the seller were willing to dikker, I would buy that rifle and be happy to have it.