#4 electro-penciled serial# bolt handle

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   I have this #4/Mk1 Maltby (1943), well the receiver is Maltby but the bolt seems to have been replaced at one point in the past with an electro-penciled non-matching to receiver serial# EA29518A. The bolt handle surface has not been scrubbed as I can tell under 6 times magnification that there are NO grinding marks, just original surface. What does this serial number mean? The rifle is a great shooter, typical LE smoothness. Is this a replacement bolt or does it have some other significance attached to that serial number series?    Thanks for your learned responses!

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Canuck Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: January 17 2012 Location: Cochrane, AB Status: Offline Points: 4021	Post Options Post Reply Quote Canuck Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: #4 electro-penciled serial# bolt handle Posted: February 27 2012 at 6:56am
	I have this #4/Mk1 Maltby (1943), well the receiver is Maltby but the bolt seems to have been replaced at one point in the past with an electro-penciled non-matching to receiver serial# EA29518A. The bolt handle surface has not been scrubbed as I can tell under 6 times magnification that there are NO grinding marks, just original surface. What does this serial number mean? The rifle is a great shooter, typical LE smoothness. Is this a replacement bolt or does it have some other significance attached to that serial number series? Thanks for your learned responses!

A square 10 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: December 12 2006 Location: MN , USA Status: Online Points: 16997	Post Options Post Reply Quote A square 10 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 27 2012 at 8:36am
	if the bolt does not match , and there is no sign of re-number , then it is missmatched , not neccessarily a bad thing for a shooter , except as a collector where it would be preferred to be ,

Canuck Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: January 17 2012 Location: Cochrane, AB Status: Offline Points: 4021	Post Options Post Reply Quote Canuck Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 27 2012 at 8:41am
	Thanks A Square 10! This rifle is a hunting rifle, full length barrel and furniture. If I were to replace the trig-mech with a Can-West unit, the bolt must be modified for use, therefore turning that bolt into a non-returnable-to-stock part. I wouldn't feel bad then having it modified for that trigger system.

A square 10 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: December 12 2006 Location: MN , USA Status: Online Points: 16997	Post Options Post Reply Quote A square 10 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 27 2012 at 8:54am
	me either as its not currently a service rifle condition and yet i seldom encourage such activities , it is your rilfe

Lithgow Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: October 25 2005 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 1417	Post Options Post Reply Quote Lithgow Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 28 2012 at 5:41am
	The electro pencilled serial number on the bolt is very common on the british No4's. Does it match the rifles serial number? if it does what makes you think that it is a replacement bolt?

Canuck Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: January 17 2012 Location: Cochrane, AB Status: Offline Points: 4021	Post Options Post Reply Quote Canuck Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 29 2012 at 2:21am
	No, the 2 numbers do not match at all.

bophi Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: May 08 2012 Location: ptown va. Status: Offline Points: 33	Post Options Post Reply Quote bophi Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: May 09 2012 at 10:37am
	i have a long branch #4mkl with a vibro etched sn. that doesn't match, the other sn. it too appers not to have been ground off.
	n2guns

Canuck Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: January 17 2012 Location: Cochrane, AB Status: Offline Points: 4021	Post Options Post Reply Quote Canuck Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: May 09 2012 at 11:23am
	That is very interesting! I do know that the bolt seems to be just perfectly matched mechanically-wise, it is so smooth and the headspace is perfect.

Lithgow Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: October 25 2005 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 1417	Post Options Post Reply Quote Lithgow Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: May 10 2012 at 11:55pm
	The fit of the bolt is not determiend by the headspace alone. The locking lugs must bear evenly also. Any good gunsmith should be able to check this and it should be done before checking ths headspace. If they do not bear evenly on both sides then you need to stone the high points to get them right. this will alter your headspace a little.

Canuck Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: January 17 2012 Location: Cochrane, AB Status: Offline Points: 4021	Post Options Post Reply Quote Canuck Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: May 11 2012 at 1:58am
	Thanks for adding that, Lithgow, I forgot to mention that. That is a very important point!

A square 10 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: December 12 2006 Location: MN , USA Status: Online Points: 16997	Post Options Post Reply Quote A square 10 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: May 16 2012 at 6:46am
	there was a lot of missmatched bolts in the imports as they were often shipped loose from the rifle , no effort to match [or they did not understand they were meant to] once there was a thread on a long gone forum that hoped to offer a trade to match service , just too much chance involved and never came to anything