Is there something special?

[Oatmeal Savage]

Is there something special about this fore end?


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...5006&rd=1&rd=1

Information

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[Claven2]

Yes, it's a MkIII (no star) forestock inletted for volley sights. VERY rare to find one that's not on a rifle. I still think that $360 US is far too high though... at that price, I can see why the owner parted it out!!!

The complete rifle is easily an $800+ item these days if it's in nice shape and matching. Scary, huh?

[Son]

On close inspection, I think it is a Mk1 foreend- making it a very hard to get piece. These rifles (in a few slight variations) were only in production untill 1906 with quite a lot converted on to upgraded models closer to the MkIII pattern by the outbreak of WW1.
To cut a long story short- the major difference is the location of the inner barrel band. The Mk1 series had the band directly inside the outer band- the screw hole for the inner band was obscured by the outer band. On the MkIII (and MkIII*) SMLE rifles the inner band was moved 1 inch toward the knox form (you would see the screw hole underneath, 1 inch back) to fix the problem of breaking the handguards where they were inletted both
inside and ouside for the bands.
The handguard shown is a MkIII model and would not fit a Mk1 without a modifacation (the overall handguard shape is slightly different too, not easy to pic without seeing both)
The nosecap, as stated is also wrong, as is the screw holding the sling swivel (getting a little anal perhaps)
Nosecap value $10 to $15; handguard $25 to $40; band, swivel and screw maybe $15.
The foreend itself would be worth (going off auction prices) what it went for- have seen them go crazy US$450!

To get a volley sight assembly could set you back $60+ depending on how many want it on the day of auction.

If you like I can post pics later to show differences and the mod I did to a MkIII handguard because I wasn't going to pay $200+ for a genuine Mk1. (yes- the front handguards are worth/ going for that- that is why I downloaded and blew up the pics to study them. If the handguard was correct for the foreend- the buyer got a great bargain)

[Claven2]

I'm not convinced it's a Mk1 forestock. There's not really any good pics of where the band inleting is.

[Son]

The only clue from all the pics is the one view from the back- forward, slightly underneath, with the outer band and swivel in the centre of the pic. You would be able to see the hole for the inner band screw an inch back from the outer band if it were a MkIII. I think the angle of view is enough to be sure the hole isn't there.

[Claven2]

If I was going to spend $360 on it, I'd want to see a photo. A hole or even a dowel could easily be there Give the MkIII fittings on that stock, if it IS a MkI stock, I'll bet it came off a Con'd II rifle, MkI I.P. or something similar.