Dear Lance et al.,
Your answer to the question about the significance of the number 1948 is a little unclear to me. Do the similarity of the markings place my rifle among the batch of 2,000 built per contract in 1941 or is it more likely to be a "clean-up" rifle actually built in 1948, in spite of the wartime code? To me it is a critical question.
I originally thought, based on information received from another most helpful collector, that use of the code was halted at the end of WWII. Thus the presence of the code pointed to a possibility that "1948" is a production number, not a date stamp. What do you think?
One of the things that I like about this rifle is that it is mostly unaltered except for relining and a .22 bolt. So the history from 1915 to the '50s is there to be deciphered from all the inspectors' marks, view marks, proof marks & refurb dates, as I become more familiar with Enfield Riflesicon and understand them through study and the help of these forum members.
Thanks, Kari