Just got back from the Big Reno Show...

[Surpmil]

I looked vey carefully, and there was only a serial number, ending in A. Everything else about the rifle screamed trials rifle, but for the lack of the stamps (I double checked, honest, Guv'nor!)

The moral of the story is, "the only purchase you regret is the one you don't make."

What you saw was probably a rifle built with trials rifle parts at Fazackerly in 1940/41. The left over parts from Enfield were sent there to be used up in starting their production. As has been discussed here before those rifles had A suffix serial numbers to designate the use of non-standard (ie: ex-trials rifle) parts.

A VERY RARE rifle indeed. Perhaps even rarer than genuine trials rifles.

Frankly, I'm amazed it was still there when you saw it at that price.

I very much doubt it still is. In fact I'll bet a few people who've read your story are on their way there now!