help IDing MK1 or MKIII Captured in Afghanistan

[MSKI12@@]

Looking for some help in Identifying a date and manufacture of what I think could be either a MK1 or MKIII rifle recently discovered in a weapons cache here in Afghanistan.

Rifle is in rough shape but it does have the volley sights and magazine cut off but the area that has the manufacture mark I have never seen before. If any of you could help with putting a date and a manufacture behind this rifle it would be appriciated.Looks like the serial number is L8304589

Thank you All

CPT SKI
EN
Eastern Afghanistan

Information

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[tbonesmith]

I'm pretty sure what you have there is a "Khyber Pass". That is made by hand as a copy of of a No1Mk3. Some of those parts didn't come out of any factory.
Have a look at this link: Milsurps Knowledge Library - “Khyber Pass” Lee-Enfield No.I Mk.III* Rifle

See if that something like it.

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Military Surplus Collectors Forums

[gsimmons]

Looks like an SMLE MkI to me. Look at the nose cap and the lower hand guard with sight protector. Interesting find, they'd copy anything wouldn't they?

[Beerhunter]

The wrong marks in the wrong place are usually a good indicator of a Khyber Pass special. For example a makers name, "BSA", on the stock disc.

[browningautorifle]

I agree, Khyber pass. The thing is, it still looks to have been used hard. I wouldn't doubt that it got into service because they wouldn't care as long as it shoots. Them shooting it mind, I wouldn't shoot it...

[Peter Laidler]

Anyone any idea what the sun logo on the barrel nocks form and butt socket is meant to represent?

[PrinzEugen]

Interesting find Capt Ski and I hope things are ok over there.
It's quite interesting to try to ponder the purpose of the gun and the impact this purpose has on the way it is made.
By this I mean - is it purely a 'fuctional' design - made as a useful firearm as close as possible to the highly successful No1 Mk3 Lee Enfield, therefore possibly guaranteeing a higher quality of item. If this is so then why are 'trimmings' such as volley sights, numbered parts, cut offs etc made?
Or is it a 'copy' made to fool people into thinking they're buying the genuine thing? - The mysterious star design would seem to suggest this isn't the case.
A bit of a pointless debate I suppose, but it does set you thinking...

[browningautorifle]

possibly guaranteeing a higher quality of item

I doubt it...

[Ridolpho]

Are you guys sure? Holding up my own Mk1*** by the screen and comparing it with the images shows amazing detail similarity. The detail around the cutoff area, in particular would seem to me beyond the realm of possibility with primitive tools (and why include the cutoff in a knock-off in the first place?). In any case, fascinating piece and I'd love to have one like it!

Ridolpho

[Clash77]

I am by no means, nor do I pretend to be anywhere near an expert on this, but IMHO if this is a KP special, it is very well done. I may just be naive and be missing something that everyone else is seeing, but i think it's slightly more likely that this is a hodge-podge of "replacement parts" added onto an existing No.1 Mk.1