Quote Originally Posted by Peter Laidlericon View Post
The ENGLAND is not a mark denoting a foreign rifle taken into UK service. It is something to indicate an IMPORT into the US

The W at the front of the nocks form indicates the presence of cuts or pitting in the bore BUT that the rifle has passed the accuracy test and accepted the running .301" gauge
OK. we have some difference of opinions. If you're talking about the "W" inside the star ahead of the knoxform (not nocks form), it's pretty much established that it's the mark for the Weedon Repair Depot. That would tie in with the "REME" stamp on the butt as well as the English parts on the rifle. The bore is only a hair down from pristine condition, and it's not a replacement barrel, so I seriously doubt the barrel had any condition issues.
As to the "ENGLAND" stamp, the rifles I've seen that came up from the US had the distributor mark (ie: caliber and company) stamped at the end of the barrel. My 1950 has the Century Arms & .303 cal. stamp at the muzzle end of the barrel, but no "Englandicon" stamp anywhere. Adding up all the clues, I still cling to my belief that this is a Canadianicon Rifle that was examined and proofed and then taken into british service.
Short of actually talking to some old brit who actually was in REME or worked at the Weedon Depot, let's just agree to disagree.