I just started cleaning my No 1 Mk 4* as a way of procrastinating from doing some research 
It was refinished in 1953 and is all numbers matching. When I took off the nosecap I found out that while the outside was cleaned, everything under the wood is still filled with cosmoline.
There are some markings on the magazine, rear sight guard and receiver, and was hoping someone could shed some light on them. From what Claven2 and the CFC said, the Mk 4*s were turned into .22 trainers after the war and then reconverted to .303 for WW2. The metal seems to be pained black, which I am assuming was done in 1953, as I can see some pitting on the nosecap edges that are now covered by paint. It's also chipped slightly on the receiver bridge, exposing a grey colour underneath.
I took some pictures, but they aren't very good unfortunatly - all I have is an old webcam.
This is stamped on the heel of the grip.
This is stamped on the grip with the arrow pointing towards the one in the picture above
rear sight guard
right side of the receiver (with the III struck out)
left side of receiver
Edge of magazine facing the trigger guard
Also, the serial number is stamped on the wood just behind the nosecap. Any guesses as to where it was refinished? There's no ishy screw so it wasn't india, and the barrel is a beautiful, shiny 6 groove.
Thanks guys!
It was refinished in 1953 and is all numbers matching. When I took off the nosecap I found out that while the outside was cleaned, everything under the wood is still filled with cosmoline. There are some markings on the magazine, rear sight guard and receiver, and was hoping someone could shed some light on them. From what Claven2 and the CFC said, the Mk 4*s were turned into .22 trainers after the war and then reconverted to .303 for WW2. The metal seems to be pained black, which I am assuming was done in 1953, as I can see some pitting on the nosecap edges that are now covered by paint. It's also chipped slightly on the receiver bridge, exposing a grey colour underneath.
I took some pictures, but they aren't very good unfortunatly - all I have is an old webcam.
This is stamped on the heel of the grip.
This is stamped on the grip with the arrow pointing towards the one in the picture above
rear sight guard
right side of the receiver (with the III struck out)
left side of receiver
Edge of magazine facing the trigger guard
Also, the serial number is stamped on the wood just behind the nosecap. Any guesses as to where it was refinished? There's no ishy screw so it wasn't india, and the barrel is a beautiful, shiny 6 groove.
Thanks guys!
