7.62 No4 MKI conversion question

[bearhunter]

It is in standard full length wood configuration. It retains the 303 magazine and looks very much like the DCRA converted rifles.
There isn't a number stamped on the bolt handle, like on the DCRA rifles. Only the same A prefix, four digit number as on the butt socket. The numbers are located on the back of the bolt.
There aren't any C broad arrows etc. I was told the fellow was interested in international competition and is now about 80 years old and has a strong english accent. I don't know anything else.

I really don't think these are DCRA rifles but they would certainly qualify in the matches. Remember, the number stamped on the receiver ring is "1".
The other numbers are no higher than 42. This fellow would have had to be the very first fellow to get a DCRA rifle.

I don't have my books right now so I can't check anything out. I've lent them all to the owner of said rifle. Who, built the DCRA rifles? Are you saying that they were sent to England then sent back again? I was under the impression that SA and CA did the conversions on them in Canada.

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[Surpmil]

It is in standard full length wood configuration. It retains the 303 magazine and looks very much like the DCRA converted rifles.
There isn't a number stamped on the bolt handle, like on the DCRA rifles. Only the same A prefix, four digit number as on the butt socket. The numbers are located on the back of the bolt.
There aren't any C broad arrows etc. I was told the fellow was interested in international competition and is now about 80 years old and has a strong english accent. I don't know anything else.

I really don't think these are DCRA rifles but they would certainly qualify in the matches. Remember, the number stamped on the receiver ring is "1".
The other numbers are no higher than 42. This fellow would have had to be the very first fellow to get a DCRA rifle.

I don't have my books right now so I can't check anything out. I've lent them all to the owner of said rifle. Who, built the DCRA rifles? Are you saying that they were sent to England then sent back again? I was under the impression that SA and CA did the conversions on them in Canada.

If there are no conversion numbers or the stylized maple leaf proof mark, then this is probably just a Long Branch / C.A.L. (Canadian Arsenals Ltd.) barrel fitted to a regular No4. The mag didn't matter as it was all single loading for target work anyway.

As for the "serial numbers", it sounds more like someone was serial numbering rifles he owned or worked on - a local amateur gunsmith perhaps? There were quite a few very competent "amateur" gunsmiths among the DCRA shooters - and of course some less competent folks who went at it hammer and tongs, at least that's how it looks when you see the rifles, but one has to bear in mind that the only thing 90% of the target shooters cared about was performance, not looks.

The DCRA conversions were all done at Long Branch/C.A.L. AFAIK, there was no equivalent program in the UK. If you wanted a conversion done there, you paid a gunsmith to do it or did it yourself.

If you have an opportunity to speak to the original owner, I'd suggest asking him what he thought of the accuracy of the 7.62mm rifles.