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You say Kashmeri, Is this a real ME or is this something that was made in the Kashmeri region and commonly referred to as a Khyber Pass special?

If it is real, I would lean to restoration first, then building into a sporter second.

Being that you are in Australia you have a better chance of finding a original ME barrel than we in the U.S. might.

If you can't find an original barrel you could always build a classic sporting rifle with the action. The ME action will have a bushed or small striker designed for use with smokeless powder cartridges. It will also have the smaller extractor for the .303 rim.

The .303 is a good cartridge on par with the .30-06 that is popular here in the US. I would not waste time shooting black powder in this cartridge. The .303 was never a successful black powder cartridge. Sure shoot cast bullets, but use smokeless powder, you will be much happier.

The Khyber Pass specials. So far I have been able to identify three different types of these rifles.

First is a crudely made rifle, made locally in the region. The material used to make them is unknown. Heat treating if any is questionable. internal parts also of unknown material and heat treatment. Some parts are very hard and some very soft. Parts geometry is very rough. Shape and angles are wrong and holes for pins and pivots are in the wrong place and not straight.

I have one example and it fires once in a while. I would not consider these rifles as safe for use and make a poor wall hanger. I will be shooting or trying to shoot this rifle for test for my book to see how durable it is.

The second type of rifle that is called a Khyber pass that I have observed is a re-mark. These rifles appear to be original commercial or volunteer pattern rifles, that have had their actions scrubbed of their commercial markings and spurious British markings reapplied. The purpose is to sell to the GI's in Afghanistan. The rifles are counterfeit! The are made up to defraud the GI's of their money. It's sad because some of them if left unchanged would be worth more than remarked.

These rifles may have a mix of original and hand made parts. They may also my have parts from other type rifles. My rifle has a long Lee Enfield barrel and fore stock. My example was firing but just quite

The actions of these rifles, if you can clearly identify them would be suitable in my opinion for building sporter rifles on. It probably would require extensive replacement of internal parts.

This rifle will also be part of he test for the book.

The last example I am only aware being found in the U.S. They are a total out and out fraud. They are represented as British Arsenal rebuild being brought out of Pakistan.

There is nothing about them original. They are not old and they are not original. In my opinion that new made to meet market demand and are sold to the surplus dealers. The look similar to a Martini. Original parts may or my not fit. The one I have has fired one round and won't work any more.

You need to determine which of the four types you have and them make your decision about what to do.

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DD, Ret.