WW2 British No. 3 Mk. 1* (P-14) Rifle by Winchester with No. 3 Mk. II WRS Stock

Serial #W30296, .303 British, 26" barrel with a fine, bright bore that has thin freckling within the grooves.  This is a Winchester-made rifle that retains 80-85% of the original blue finish, with gray fading at the muzzle, along the high edges, and on the bearing surfaces and handle of the matching bolt.  The rear sight is correct and matches the condition of the rifle, but does have a different number on the back side of the ladder.  British military proofs and Broad Arrow are present on the left wall of the receiver, with a further "S / ><" release for commercial sale stamp on the ring, and a small and unobtrusive import mark on the left of the receiver, just below the Birmingham civilian proof stamp.  The stock is a seldom seen No. 3 Mk. II replacement stock, made from English walnut, and has a few minor handling marks and small surface blemishes scattered about the original oil finish, as well as a single bruise on the left side of the wrist.  The right side of the buttstock has a crisp "No 3 Mk II" stamp with both Broad Arrow and later "S / ><" commercial sale stamp.  The handguard is original and has numerous small handling marks scattered about the armory-applied oil finish.  The stacking swivel has been removed, however the stock is equipped with an angled, target swivel just ahead of the magazine, identical to those used on the No. 4 (T) sniper rifle.  These stocks were used to convert WW1 spec Pattern 1914 rifles to the 1939 Weedon Repair Standard (WRS) in the rush to arm the British Army in the early stages of WW2, which required the removal of the volley sight disk and rear aperture.  The new stocks did not have provision for the volley sights, making them very similar in configuration to US Model 1917 stocks, but did retain the asymmetrical grasping grooves of original Winchester and Remington produced Pattern 1914 stocks.  The Glasgow furniture making firm of H. Morris & Co. was contracted to make the Mk. II stocks and produced about 11,000 pieces, but they are not commonly encountered today.  This example is in fine plus condition, and would make a wonderful addition to any collection.  FFL or C&R