Well, as usual, no easy answers when it comes to questions regarding originality. But very useful comments. I went back and reviewed a number of threads displaying NZicon owned Mk I* rifles and am somewhat surprised to see finishes that in some cases look a lot like my rifle. None seem to display a bright, typical rust blued surface that some threads seem to suggest as characteristic of Long Branch bluing. In the NZ rifle threads I also see the characteristic forend numbering mentioned by Brian D. I also then stumbled into interesting older threads with some controversy about the actual existence of absolutely original No. 4 rifles- a debate that will likely never be resolved. In another great older thread about "originality" Peter Laidlericon mentions a minor modification done to No. 4 Mk I* rifles in service and which would likely be done to a LB refurbed in the fifties and I'm going to have to dig the rifle out of the safe again to look for that. Surprisingly and based mainly on Brian's opinion I'm now inclined to think there is a chance this rifle is "factory original". Does it matter? Well, to a collector absolutely. I'll post a few additional photos as time permits. Regards.

Ridolpho
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