Another new acquisition

[Surpmil]

The barrel serial number matches the rest of the rifle. I hate taking the rear handguards off as I'm afraid of breaking them. I don't think it had been recently removed as there was a bit of cosmoline on the barrel. I think this an Arsenal reconditioned rifle, as according to page 6 of Stratton, "Many (perhaps most) early Mk III rifles were "arsenal reconditioned" at which time the volley sights were often removed and new furniture was often installed."

Could be, though wasn't the SOP that the "III" be changed to "III*" when the cutoff was removed?

[Neuraleanus]

Could be, though wasn't the SOP that the "III" be changed to "III*" when the cutoff was removed?

Good question. I have a another rifle, a Mk III* rebuilt using Indian furniture. The important distinction is the receiver. There is no slot for the magazine cutoff.