RFI NoI Mk3 in grease.

[Buccaneer]

Now that the beast is clean I thought there might be some interest in what was hiding under all the crud. I have no idea if what I see is "standard " to this type of wire wound rifle or in fact to the RFI SMLE in general as I have nothing to compare it with.
There is a strap accross the rear of the forend similar to the No4 MkI instead of the brass rod that is common to "Enfield" SMLE's.
Brass rods have been inserted just in front of the magazine and also on the top wood just in front of the rearsight neither areas show any sign of damage.
A metal strip appears to have been inserted under the left hand side of the rear wire wrap and the right hand side of the front wrap (looking forward down the barrel).
The rifle is "all matching" including the magazine and rearsight both of which have had previous numbers barred out, it carries an "FR" stamp to the left butt socket, could this be the same as our "FTR" mark? There is also a stamp on the butt, a circle with a D over the broad arrow with T & E either side, there appears to be a (W) under the broard arrow but it's very difficult to make out.
This rifle will never win any beauty contests but it is different....