Have you seen any of these rifles equipped with the “waisted” front sight covers? I ask as I have not. I recall exchanging Email with the Late Maj. Williams and he said most of the NZ No 4 rifles came into New Zealand service after WWII. Apparently when the post war debts were being resolved New Zealand got a quantity of around 30~40,000 of these rifles from UKicon stocks held in Italyicon. Some were turned in “used” but according to Maj. Williams, many were still unissued. Most of those I have seen were in the 22L and later series, though I have never bothered to keep a log. My memory is that all I have seen were1942~ 1943 dated, but I am not sure if that memory is correct.

I was not aware of so many early serial number rifles, which has me wondering if they might have come from the early shipment of No4 rifles into Australia. I do not ever recall seeing any indication of what happened to them, or Australianicon shooters posting them.

Thanks in advance

Fredeick303