The serial number (PF 318154) places it in the Irish contact, the first of which went out the door in 10/53. The engraved numbering does not look the same as on the 53/54/55 Fazakerly production I have seen. None of the rifles in this Irish series and post Irish UF55A series have forends that are conversions from MK I forends like that shown on the sample rifle. Nor are any in the series that preceded this, the so called Burma contact that was in the 360,xxx range but have dates from 7/53 through 9/53. I base that statement on a data base I have been building on these rifles, which now numbers just short of 400 sampled rifles.

My guess is the action was built up by the trade (and so numbered) or possibly remarked by the trade, though I have no idea if that was legal at the time. There have been a few 401xxx to 405xxx regulated rifles that have come to light which have been dated in the 10/49 period. I seem to recall that both Parker Hale and Fulton’s had rifles so marked in this sequence. Those action bodies seem to have normal engraving on them, at least that is my recollection.

Very interesting piece