No 4 Mk 1 Rebuild question

[icraker]

I have a rebuilt Maltby No 4 Mk 1 from 1944. It has matching mag, receiver, bolt and barrel. It looks like the sight was updated to MK II, but still has the old style trigger guard where the trigger is mounted to the guard and not the receiver.

I bought it because of the matching numbers and really clean condition. My question is would finding a matching rifle like this be unusual?

Thanks!

Information

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[Beerhunter]

In the UK, such a rifle these days is probably the norm. Elsewhere bolts often get mixed up.

Having a MK2 sight doesn't make a rifle a Mark 2. It just means that if has a Mark 2 sight (300/600 apertures). Which incidentally would be wrong on a Mark 2 rifle.

[bradtx]

icraker, There are two backsights marked 'Mk2'. A Mk2 backsight is the two position 'flip' sight. The Mk3 backsight has a slide marked Mk2 and is made of stamped steel. It's a bit confusing at first.

The magazine wasn't originally marked at Maltby and is more likely the result of a field repair, possibly as minor as replacement of a missing or damaged magazine.

The majority of L-E rifles are matching in the US and is preferred.

Brad

[Peter Laidler]

There is always a bit of an identity problem with the sights. The Mk1 is the what you call 'ladder type. The Mk2 is the 300 - 600 flip over sight. The Mk3 type is the first fabricated sight with the protruding lever and the Mk4 is the modified fabricated with the inward curved adjustment lever.

The problem arises because the leaf of the Mk3 is distinctly marked Mk2. But that indicates that it is a Mk2 LEAF. The sight assembled/assembly is the Mk3.

Same goes for the Mk4 sight........, where the leaf is sometimes marked Mk3! But that is because, as before, the actual LEAF part IS the Mk3 LEAF, but the sight assembly is the Mk4.

Phew........................

Hope I'm not preaching to the converted..............

[Alan de Enfield]

A picture is worth 367 words

[icraker]

Got it. Definitely a Mark 4 sight on mine.

[Peter Laidler]

Another thing to remember is that the Mk2,3 and 4 were never declared obsolete, only obsolescent. That means that production has ceased and will not restart and will be available while sock remain. They will be used until stocks are exhausted.

You could still see them on rifles right up until they were all finally withdrawn in the 90's.