Well, the rifle got varnished at some time, who knows if was done while it was in service, or where. I wouldn't be in a hurry to be stripping and refinishing.
Don't know exactly what the rifle is. A .22 rf Short Rifle Pattern 1918 used the .303 cartridge style carriers, and a sleeved .303 barrel, but had an ejector added on the left of the receiver; the Sht .22 IV* rifle had a purpose made .22 barrel, and was a .22 single shot. It would seem that the rifle is a composite, the body from a IV*, the barrel and carriers from a Pattern 1918. No mention is made in the description of a serial on the barrel. Its a bit of an odd one, a composite of two different patterns of training rifles, assembled after the rifle was converted to IV* pattern. When it was set up in its present configuration may be impossible to determine. Is there a stabilized crack in the forend in front of the magazine? The crosspin would suggest either a repair, or service in India.
Before you do anything to it, I think that you might want to do more research.
