Any comments on this No1 MkVI?

[superbee]

http://www.gunbroker.com/item/614942158

Information

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[CINDERS]

So others may also learn about them;

No. 1 Mk VI TRIALS RIFLE

the No.1 Mk.VI rifle is the earliest direct predecessor of the No.4 Mk.1 rifle, produced between 1929-1933 at RSAF Enfield for troop trials. Serial numbers, with many gaps, overlap those of the No.4 Mk.I trials rifle (A001-A1700), with many of both types of rifles being renumbered, with an "A" suffix in 1941-2 to designate their limited interchangeability of parts with the then new No.4 Mk.I production rifles. Many Mk.VIs were lost with the Fall of France and the evacuation from Dunkirk in 1940. An as yet unestablished number (probably a few hundred) of unfinished Mk.VI receivers were supplied to the ROF Fazakerly during 1941-2 to be made into complete rifles to supplement No.4 Mk.I production. The range of serial numbers for these hybrid variants is between 24000A-27000A; again note the "A" suffix. A complete original No.1 Mk.VI trials rifle can instantly be recognized by a coarsely checkered walnut fore-end and a brass marking disk near the toe on the right side of its butt, whereas the later Fazakerly-produced rifles, for all intents and purposes, are stocked with early (usually beech) No.4 Mk.I woodwork and lack a marking disk. Also, the left wall of the receiver of the Mk.VI appears to be scooped-out in front of the charger bridge, thus making it much lower than those found on the subsequent No. 4 trials and production rifles.

[browningautorifle]

We had a military day in Gagetown NB one year and one man was dressed in Battle Dress with webbing...complete. He'd been issued a spare rifle from the museum's back room and it was one of these. He was walking around with it slung all day, just hanging out...they DID know what it was too.

[Surpmil]

Two things strike me: how much easier would it be to push a charger down with that lower thumb cut and lower left receiver wall, and was there any reason beyond lightening for that 'velodrome' cutout behind the safety lever(?)

[limpetmine]

The most glaring issue is the flip back sight. Not right, obviously. The waisted front sight looks correct, for the one photo he has. For 3K you'd think he'd have better pictures and more of them.
The price is of course out of line, or it would've sold. The stock I'm not sure about. These had a grooved front forestock. I'd think this one was re-stocked in 1939-1941 time frame.

[browningautorifle]

I'd think this one was re-stocked in 1939-1941 time frame.

Or...it was brought back from the dead some time in the last 70 years. This is how it turned out.

[limpetmine]

Or...it was brought back from the dead some time in the last 70 years. This is how it turned out.

Always a possibility.

[browningautorifle]

Best part is you have it now and it's safe for a while.

[limpetmine]

Best part is you have it now and it's safe for a while.

one of 1,025. Re-stock or not, quite the gem in a collection.

[browningautorifle]

1,025

YOU have 1,025? That's a rack you should show us...or room...