Newbie Questions

[PaleFaceArms]

Howdy,
Well I'm a Colt and Winchester collector but picked this up yesterday. Kind of thought it was cool. Anyway, what is this gun all about? Does the X'd out serial number mean the other was assigned? What is FA under the crown? What's the wire all about and should I remove it? What's that other dial type thing? Anything else? Value?
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Information

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[BurtonP]

The wire is strengthening for grenade launching. The Dial is the front part of a volley sight. The rest I don't know. Nice rifle. Don't remove anything.

[Tommiep54]

IIRC, E is for Edward and R is for Rex (King).

I would consult my books for more information but an expert will probably chime in here soon. Looks like a MK 1 that had the upgrades from the star marks. I'm sure you did well on the find and may make some collectors jealous. Look closley for any more markings you can take pictures of that will help the experts ID information. Sometimes there are unit marks or markings that identify it for branch of service etc. Cool old war horse.

[browningautorifle]

Yes, leave it as is. It was a service rifle that was downgraded in use to a grenade launching rifle only. That's what the barring out and renumbering is for. They were Emergency use only for ball. The wire strengthens the weak points when a rodded grenade was fired. The rod was inserted into the barrel and a heavy charge grenade launching cartridge was inserted. https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=33073

The other dial thing is a volley sight and remained from the use of volley firing when the rifle was designed. https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=23832

Yes, Edward Rex, King Edward... Edward VII (1901–10).

[Daan Kemp]

Regina=queen, rex=king

[browningautorifle]

Regina=queen, rex=king

Yes...

[Bindi2]

The barred out numbers are the old barrel numbers. The action used to be numbered to the barrel.

[CINDERS]

That's some of the neatest wire wrapping I've seen on a 303 G D rifle.

True Bindi no solder good eyes.

[Bindi2]

Thas some of the neatest wire wrapping I've seen on a 303 G D rifle

And not soldered.

[Roger Payne]

If you want a grenade launching rifle you couldn't ask for a more honest & nicer example than this one.....