I've had a second look at the left side of the body near the barrel nut where Peter indicated the proof mark would be and I would confirm that it is marked thus '43 with an apostrophe just before the "4". There are a few other faint markings in the area which I can't fully make out. I take it that the '43 is the proof mark and it's not one of these other marks? Is the proof mark of this style, an abbreviated date? I did wonder if an explanation could be that the body of this gun was a new spare part held at a base workshop and the serial number and 1944 date was added to match the serial number of an existing gun which had been damaged with the need for a replacement body??? Thanks for all the information.
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