I think the yellow paint was applied to prevent corrosion below the stock line. I wouldn't remove it, for history's sake, but that is my two cents.
... Well, I don't know when that designation came into effect. BUT, the School I attended, admittedly way back when we wrote on Clay Tablets, but there was a very large Cadet Corps, along with Pipe Band, Quarter Guard and the whole nine yards. NONE of the rifles were marked with a yellow band, or any other identifying mark. Members of the Cadet Corp shot their issued rifles when in Camp ( Usually Pukapunyal (?) Army Camp )Nor were the Vickers, Bren's , Mortars and Owens. .... It may well have been different in other States, or come into practice after I left "the Lucky Country".Yellow paint in Ozz was cadet. Marstar sold a pot full of them back in the 80's.
They had almost every date from first production up to the late 40's.




























