[SchildaBrit]

... as a newbie this is probably not a very tactful start. But Fernando has pointed out the screamingly obvious - the snail boss just does not match the lock in any way.

On genuine Enfield rifle-muskets, the snail boss matches the lockplate very well indeed. One of the easiest ways to identify the products of Ali Bubba and his colleagues in Kabul is that the snail does NOT match the lockplate.

And this example is the worst mismatch I have ever seen.

Furthermore, in the photos it appears that the decoration of the backstrap does not match the remains of decoration on the tang. That could, of course, be a deficiency of the photo.

In other words, I need some convincing that this is not a "bitsa".

Sorry to sound so negative, but I am trying to be objective.