Sorry, I posted to the wrong forum. I have moved it appropriately.
My uncle passed away earlier this year and left my aunt with some interesting pieces from the back of a hallway closet: 1) a Colt New Line revolver 2nd Model (~1882); 2) a Marlin Model 39 with octagon bbl. and case hardened receiver (~1938), and 3) a No. 1 Mark III SMLE battle rifle manufactured by Lithgow (Australia) in 1940. This last piece has seen some battlefield use I reckon. However, the stock fore end (original to the piece) appears to have been cut back around 9.75" giving a "semi-sporterized" look to the gun but retaining the forward stock clamp. I have not been able to find any photos of this configuration on the web, so I am assuming someone "cut it back". Everything else looks right. Any opinion on this configuration? Did the Aussies modify these weapons? The job appears to have been done reasonably well.
My uncle passed away earlier this year and left my aunt with some interesting pieces from the back of a hallway closet: 1) a Colt New Line revolver 2nd Model (~1882); 2) a Marlin Model 39 with octagon bbl. and case hardened receiver (~1938), and 3) a No. 1 Mark III SMLE battle rifle manufactured by Lithgow (Australia) in 1940. This last piece has seen some battlefield use I reckon. However, the stock fore end (original to the piece) appears to have been cut back around 9.75" giving a "semi-sporterized" look to the gun but retaining the forward stock clamp. I have not been able to find any photos of this configuration on the web, so I am assuming someone "cut it back". Everything else looks right. Any opinion on this configuration? Did the Aussies modify these weapons? The job appears to have been done reasonably well.