No. 3 MKI* (T)

[Tom Jackson]

Promo/Badger:

I latest information that I have indicates that the Irish Republic received 79 No.3 MkI*(T) rifles with BAS scopes and "FF" marked bases but MAY have also received an additional 33 rifles w/PP scopes. In any case Interarmco imported 111 No. 3 MKI*(T) rifles to the U.S. in 1960. This apparently included all 79 rifles w/BSA scopes. What I am trying to determine is whether the 33 rifles that were fitted with PP scopes imported in 1960 represents the majority (or total) of the No.3MKI*(T) rifles w/PP scopes imported to the U.S. As I indicated in my previous post, ALL of the rifles I have observed with BSA scopes have matching serial numbers. NONE of the rifles w/PP scopes have matching serial numbers. For what it is worth I have seen a few more Irish (BSA) rifles than rifles w/PP Scopes. The serial number of my BSA scoped rifle is "W237736" and the mount has the Irish "FF" stamp. My PP scoped rifle (Winchester) is serial number "210291" and the scope is serial numbered "204407". The stock on the PP rifle is stamped with the rifle serial number. The stock on the BSA scoped rifle does not appear to be serial numbered. The PP rifle has a British pattern scope case that is numbered to the scope. Both rifles are in generally the same condition as the rifles in Badger's pictures. The stocks on both rifles have apparently been sanded during some sort of overhaul. The rear sight serial numbers on both rifles have been struck out.

There is not a lot of information on No.3MKI*(T) rifles - in the case of the BSA scoped rifles there is not a lot of history either (they were manufactured for the Irish Republic, delivered in 1938 and sold in 1960). What I would like to determine is how many rifles w/PP scopes are here in the U.S. and where they originally came from (UK or Ireland).

Thanks for the help and information.