New Zealand SMLE Wrist Markings

[WillSarchet]

I have been offered some parts & action bodies that I will be importing. One of those offered to me is a 1905 SMLE MkI. Like many of the NZ rifles, it has a XXX/XX number on the wrist over the normal markings. However, where the last two digits normally seem be the year, they are 27 on this one. Why would NZ have acquired an old MkI in 1927, or is this not a year marking this time? Is this a particularly rare variation?

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[Woodsy]

The SMLE Mk I rifles were only issued to the Otago Rifle Volunteers which had a strength of 12 companies of Mounted Rifles and 28 Infantry companies, all based at different areas throughout the province. The number would be a rack number followed by the unit number. Unfortunately I have not found any existing records that would identify the unit number.

[5thBatt]

The SMLE Mk I rifles were only issued to the Otago Rifle Volunteers which had a strength of 12 companies of Mounted Rifles and 28 Infantry companies, all based at different areas throughout the province. The number would be a rack number followed by the unit number. Unfortunately I have not found any existing records that would identify the unit number.

That does not really fit with examples seen, they are nearly all inventory number over 05 with a small number with the inventory number over numbers in the mid/high 20s what happened to all the 01, 02, 03, 04, 06, 07........etc rifles if these were unit numbers?