Can Someone Please Tell Me What I Have Here?

[Maple_Leaf_Eh]

After WWII, the idea of carrying a long awkward military rifle didn't have much appeal. The idea of a sporting rifle, as in be a good sport, seemed more marketable. A sport is a British term for a paid guide who might have to shoot a wounded animal for a customer whose shot wasn't true. I know of a fellow who was a sport in New Brunswick and he shot many many deer with a light handy lever or pump. Therefore, to sport-erize a rifle was to make it lighter, faster and handier. Cut down the wood, shorten the barrel, lop off the battle sights and varnish up the stock. Maybe add a scope, but not every working man had that kind of scratch after the war. Lyman sold many aftermarket sights. The NRA published little books on how to do it smartly. Ugly to our eyes today, but a good idea at the time.