Hi - this is a quick and hopefully simple one. I'm looking at a 1917 smle that is reputed to have been refurbished (new bolt,magazine, and beech stock during WW2. The barrel has a serial number with the letter 'Y' above it. I'm wondering what this refers to and if this has any bearing to whether the barrel is original to the rifle or not. It does also bear GR inspection marks, which may make this a moot point. Thanks,
The Y is the prefix for the serial number. The rifle is the 6104 of Y block.
Look for '17 on the other side of the barrel, this is a 1918 with its original '18 marked barrel.
Attachment 89801
Can someone tell me what the letters Z and N mean on the rifle as I have the same on my 1918 SMLE, thanks, Steve
---------- Post added at 04:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:49 PM ----------
Sorry guess it’s New Zealand
You are correct...Originally Posted by bravo2zero
Regards, Jim
OK thanks. The other side of the barrel was a bit messy to the untrained eye, but now can clearly see that it's a '17', albeit a messy one. Thanks very much for the answers.
i love my N^Z marked and home guard marked rifles as they were part of our local history. but more and more seem to show up in other countries now. do some of you overseas collectors specifically target nz marked ones for some reason?
I know I'd like a nz rifle eventually because of the common bond between nz and australia.
plus when i was there i had heaps of fun and met lots of really nice people so i think highly of nz.
Like you henry r but I wouldn't tell the Kiwis, we don't need to swell their heads their hats would blow away.
hahaha no need to worry about our hats blowing away as we know what end of the sheep holds them better.... but what we all need to worry more about the fact you aussies got cricket and lawn bowls mixed up back in 81... and dont even mention a pavlova or phar lap...
Posting Permissions
Register To Reply
