Quote Originally Posted by Brian Dickicon View Post
Is there a South African ownership mark stamped on the top of the breech or Knox? If not, I'd say it's been restocked since it was imported to the USAicon. The South African marked beech is wood that was available in quantity as replacement wood as I said before.
Brian, thanks for your help deciphering. (It's a joy to have a Sherlock Holmes on my team.) Here's what I found on the Knox:
- matching serial number
- broad arrow
- N17(under crown) [does this mean pre-1954 import?]
- F5 [??]
- M(over)3 [Albion Pressed Steel Metal Co. Birmingham??]
- no "BNP" nor "Englandicon" stamps
- no "CG" or "SA" [South Africa] markings anywhere
Back to the Forend: Draws fit tight and true, but no serial number on top which might validate your replacement wood hypothesis.

So: some of the evolution of the gun may remain a mystery.
And someday we may find out the real reason why some 1944 Maltby Enfields get a "*" Star Rating.

P.S. I'll be back to you late next week via PM on the restoration of the LB Sniper