in2anity wrote:Thanks DJ, appreciate your time. Correct me if i'm wrong, if it were pre-1926, how could it be a No4 mag? That's mkIII (and earlier) era isn't it? And I'm pretty sure it's a No4 magazine, as the ribs don't go to the very base. Not only that, if it were a mkIII mag, it just wouldn't be compatible correct?
in2anity, You are absolutely correct - up until 1926 they were "SMLE Mk III or Mk III*", After 1926 they were "Rifle No.1, Mk III or Mk III*". Yours could well be a No.4 Mag as I've never seen one but it is very similar to mine. Mine is a No.1 Mk.III* but changes were made throughout the history of the rifles and magazines changed significantly as well. Your "new" mag is quite different to mine so that suggests it is either an older iteration or a newer one. The "Star-A" stamp tells me it's Australian and my research suggests it's older
The mag on my rifle isn't numbered to the rifle like the bolt, wood etc. are and I'm sure the mag in my rifle did not come with it from the factory - in fact my rifle is stamped "Lithgow" and the mag is stamped "OA" which is Orange Arsenal from South Australia. There is no guarantee that your mag is the one that came with it from the factory - in fact, unless it is numberd so, it's probably pretty unlikely given the number of times it has likely been to see an armorour or gun shop over the intervening years. It could even be a No.4 body with an earlier follower. The follower in the "new" mag has much more metal at the "nose" end than the other which doesn't fit with simplifying designs for increased and cheaper production. Again, this suggests it being an earlier design.
Mine has a "4" stamped on the tab at the front of the magazine with an oblong shaped stamped fixing the tab to the front of the mag as opposed to your circular "rivet". Mine also has a "4" stamped on the magazine latch steelwork. Again these suggest changes to simplify production but mine does have the ridges extend all the way to the base of the mag.
I'm taking my info from a sheet on SMLE markings I downloaded from a SMLE page maybe 20 years ago that says the "Star-A" stamp was discontinued on
rifles in 1926. I'm assuming (and that's always dangerous) that the same applies to magazines. A search of SMLE enthusiasts would put you right in very short order.
On re-reading the original post, I note you don't have a feeding issue with the "new" mag but rather with the older "bulged" one. Time for some panel beating to get her back into her original shape I say!
I hope you solve the mystery.
Jim
Listing your firearms is as good as a fingerprint.