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MkIII peened windage slide and bolt serial number
Hi all, it's my first post of milsurps.com!
I'm working on restoring a MkIII and have a question about features and bolt markings.
My rear sight windage slide is peened so that it can't move side to side more than 0.5 - 1 mm. The mechanism on the back would work if not for the peening. I've post a photo here,
Ross - Google Photos
I've also seen another members rifle posted in this forum that has this feature,
https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=57218
From what I understand this was not an official change to the rifle... but there is more than one that has had this done. So I was curious to know if anyone know who did this work?
Also, the back of my bolt has a stamped combination of three numbers on top of two letters, the same as shown in photos of another members rifle posted in this forum,
https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=57218
From what I understand there should be no stamped numbers/letters here from the factory. I was curious to know if anyone know who did this work? Maybe it's related to question 1. I've poked around using the search function for answers to these questions and so far have not come up with anything. Thanks all.
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01-15-2019 09:08 AM
# ADS
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The peening or rather center-punching of the backsight windage adjustment was U.K. standard I believe. Sort of a "if everyone can't have it, no one can have it" sort of thing. The argument being that "the men aren't trained to use that etc." and of course neither were the NCO's trained to teach it. Which was true, but you'd think the average soldier could be trained and trusted to periodically check that the lines lined up, and adjust the little screw accordingly if not; but no...
“There are invisible rulers who control the destinies of millions. It is not generally realized to what extent the words and actions of our most influential public men are dictated by shrewd persons operating behind the scenes.”
Edward Bernays, 1928
Much changes, much remains the same.
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Hi, I've uploaded some photos to this website for future reference.
My restoration is pretty much complete! The bayonet band and its screw are reproductions from altadiver. After some sanding, cold blue and steel wool, it looks just right. It's a great product. The stock is black walnut off a duplicator from Alberta Gun Stocks, another great product, which I finished myself. It took quite awhile to get the fit just right. The finish is an espresso gel stain followed by 2 coats Minwax Tung Oil. I used 0000 steel wool after each coat to get the look of BLO.
Every other part is original to the rifle including the handguard. It has the later 0.043" thick wall mag, large bolt stop, E mark on barrel above the chamber, last revision of the extractor cut on the bolt head, bolt sleeve has the rivet, and late version of the buttplate door. So seems like its a later production, but the original stock was heavily sporterized so no idea about the serial number and year of manufacture.
Thanks for the info about UK service gents. Yes it must have been in UK service at some point, as it has Birmingham proof marks, crown-over-BM, on the barrel, receiver ring, bolt head and bolt sleeve. There is no "Not english made" stamp anywhere.
Also there are no PH, CRB, PLY markings... however along with the 3 numbers over 2 letter marking on the back of the bolt handle, there is also a large two letter mark "TZ" on the front of the bolt handle. Has this one been seen before? Cheers
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Thank You to BBBQ For This Useful Post:
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On second look the T in the TZ mark on the front of the bolt handle is more like an I. So it's really IZ, or ZI. Still don't know what it might mean, or how common this is.
Here's something related to the center punching of the rear sight from Page 50 of the Ross Rifle Story,
"About this time, Ross suggested discarding the windgauge of his screw elevating rear sight. The idea was considered and dropped as was his request to have the sight replaced by the new British War Office pattern made up for the 100,000 Mark III B Rosses Britain had ordered September 15, 1914."
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