1916 Lithgow SMLE Mk. III

[Homer]

I gather Homer it was not an after market bluing but possibly done on 5/44, thanks for the appreciation of it with the "if I get sick of it................." but I will politely say "No Thanks" Homer I sorta made a promise to Terry and even though he has passed I still feel obliged to keep the promise "Not to shoot it" even though he has been gone 2 years now it just would not sit right with me.
I have tried to put a .300 gauge into the muzzle and there is no way known its was going it I think the .295 may have gone in very snugly I mean I did it when I first got it home which was like 8 years ago......geez the last bit sounds like got up to shenanigans with the wife better stop there...................

Of course mate, exactly the reply I expected. It's just something g you say when you like something.👍🏻

---------- Post added at 03:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:54 PM ----------

The BARREL was, in the tradition of the '53 Enfield, the "controlled" part.

They were a "consumable" item, bearing "batch numbers" but not an official "serial number" until assembled into a rifle.

Back in the "good old days", rifle club armourers had boxes of bodies as "spares" and they would fit them to whatever barrel the shooter wanted.

Given the peace-time ratio of "drills" to live firing, it is not surprising that bodies and bolts expired before the barrels did. Flogged-out bolt raceways and bolt-head retaining "ribs" would be noticeable long before a barrel was "past it".

Sorry Bruce, I'm not following this. Batch numbers, are you referring to Proof Action Assembly numbers?