Is it a 1916 or 1918 SHTLE III*?

[Kiwi]

I went into the local gunshop at lunchtime today with the best of intentions to purchase some some walnut stain for a restoration project, but a quick stroll down the gun rack and I was stopped by a beautiful looking rifle. Instead of stain, I managed to walkout the door with a Enfield SHTLE III* instead!

I am wondering however if anyone can shed some light on the date of manufacture as its hard to tell as the numbers are worn down. In different lights the the final number looks either like a 6 or an 8 and the attached photo seems to look more 8ish to me. My head is telling me its 1918, by my heart wants it to be 1916 so it could be a represetative example of what my great great uncle would have gone over the top with in the first Somme offensive. Its NZ stamped so that's great no matter what the date and all the numbers match except for the nose cap. If the serial number would help in dating the rifle its W7001. Happy to post other photos if required.
Cheers, Kiwi.

Information

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[jmoore]

It would be an '18. If not too rebuilt, the forestock may cover the cutoff slot. Probably no divot on LH side for the front volley sight plate inletting, either.

To verify, check the barrel date by pulling the rear handguard off the barrel.

[muffett.2008]

Definately 18.Attachment 37359

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

No more pictures? Tease. Give them up.

[Kiwi]

No more pictures? Tease. Give them up.

Ok, Here are some pictures. I took the rear top wood off as jmoore suggested (Not sure why I didn't think of that!) and the barrel has a '18 stamp, so its a 1918 manufactured rifle alright. The wood is too good to be from 1918, and the larger topwood is marked SLAZ 5? as shown, so seeing as all the wood work is matching, I assume its all Oz manufactured wood from the 1950's?

The nose cap has holes milled in it, so that's another Australia feature I believe and the butt plate is also 'MA' stamped. Will find a proper butt plate and nose cap soon. Barrrel is nice and shiney, with plenty of rifling left in it and all other metal fittings are EFD marked. It's my first full wood SMLE and I can see why they are addictive!!! Already making space in the safe for another one!

Anyone out there have any idea on what the marking on the stock mean? Are they also Australian?

[Homer]

What's wrong with the nosecap and butt plate?

The forend and butt look English to me.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Thats what I'm talking about! Nice photos! My day is complete.

[Kiwi]

Can't get the quote function working this morning, but in reply to Homer's question about "What's wrong with the nosecap and butt plate?" the Brass buttplate is stamped MA so it was made by Lithgow and therefore not EFD marked. The nose cap has no makers mark, but the holes in the sight protector 'ears' (for want of bette them) shouldn't be there on a 1918 dated rifle as I understand that they are an later Australian modification. Also one of the attaching screws is wrong for the nose cap.