Quote Originally Posted by Peter Laidlericon View Post
What on earth is the problem with non-matching bolts? In the real words of Armourers shops around the world, this is what you do. You check the bolt that is already fitted OR take another bolt - new or good used - off the shelf, then fit it according to the simple (?) instructions regularly repeated on this forum. That been done, then you clean off the back of the bolt and then do one of two things. A) put it in the special jig in the pantograph engraving table and engrave the rifle serial number or; B) Put it onto the leather jaw clamp vice and stamp the new number into it.

Label old bolt with UNCHECKED label ready to go to calibration lab.

There, that wasn't toooooo difficult was it?

Not too difficult but.... what on earth is a pantograph thingy ? sorry just joking.

You are right Peter, a non-matching bolt is not really a big thing. Exect maybe that a full matching are a bit more desirable in the collecting world.
But that doesn't botter me, i did buy it fully knowing it was not matching.
I know that when it was in service the last thing on an armorer's mind was matching little numbers but making sure the rifle would perform well when needed.

Condition is also an important part of collecting and the condition of this one is one of the reason i bought it.

The wrong kind of part (in my case the safety lever) botters me more that the matching of the bolt. But i also knew that when i bought it.
Maybe one day i will find one to replace it... one can dream....

Thanks Peter for a glimpse into an armorers work and thanks to the other that showed me what a real Mk V looked like. CHEERS !!