A Maltby a bit odd

[desperatedan]

I have a WW1 era SMLE that has a 'O' prefix, & whilst I cannot be 100% I'm pretty sure I've heard of at least one 'O' prefix 44 BSA 4T, although I agree it's potentially confusing.

Yes me too. My LSA SMLE is ‘O’ prefix (I had to spell out to my local firearms licensing dept that it was ‘oh’ not ‘zero’). In regards various SMLE production across the types and years, LSA used an ‘O’ and I believe Enfield used ‘I’ and ‘O’ serial prefixes.

I believe Maltby were particularly untidy in how serials were applied by hand. The person who stamped my No4 must have had bad eyesight and been standing on a slope!

[Lance]

I have a WW1 era SMLE that has a 'O' prefix, & whilst I cannot be 100% I'm pretty sure I've heard of at least one 'O' prefix 44 BSA 4T, although I agree it's potentially confusing.

From my records I only have ONE "O" No. 4 T, they do exist.

[Roger Payne]

It might have been yours that I was thinking about Lance!

And yes, DD, mine is a LSA 1917 example. In fact it is a very clean barreled action, one of a number that I have acquired over the years to rebuild as a complete rifle come that rainy day when I finally get around to it.