1943 Long Branch No.4 Mk1*

[limpetmine]

The bolt looks right to me. Look closely at the first "8". Looks like a little bounce in the number, but the color and finish look right. I think someone made the rifle match the bolt and called it "A numbers match" rifle. A couple more close ups in natural light may help. When bolts are ground down and renumbered, there is usually a shelf on the left side, (to the right of the "B", in this case). The serrations look like machining marks to me.

[browningautorifle]

When bolts are ground down and renumbered, there is usually a shelf on the left side

The back of the bolt has been filed. There's another number to the left of the "8" and something was under the "L". There's a remains of a number inside the "3" too. Inside the "0" is a lateral mark like the back of a "7". It's not unusual to reuse a bolt. This isn't a factory new bolt though.

[Peter Laidler]

As a matter of (little....) interest but when we had a box of used but serviceable bolts to put back on the shelf, one of the blokes would take them to the machine shop and one of the fitter turners would machine the number off on the lathe. You usually asked the most junior bloke in the machine shop because he would always(?) xxxx the first one up due to the overhang of the knob on the bolt handle whacking his lathe tool. Big laugh all round while discussing the latest Rugby (against the Kiwis) or cricket (against the poms) scores. Nobody worried about the feint markings left behind as a rule. Then into the phosphate plant.

[Fussyboy/51]

Thank you guys for all your insight into my numbering dilemma. My latest purchase - 1939 Ishapore SMLE No.1 MkIII looks to be without any of the issues on the numbering.

Thanks again most appreciated....Len