BSA Standard .22 serial number ground off?!

[torrens]

Hi Huttles,
as you suspect it does read 4693; the top of the "1" used by BSA slopes and doesn't project to the right ( I do work with lettering professionally!) If you can work out the age/missing first digit by the features of the rifle then it could be restamped/ engraved as suggested. It seems a bit o.t.t playing up theft and badmouthing auctioneers etc...... How many collectors have happily paid serious money for collectable items and unbeknown to them the dealer or private seller has ripped off an elderly widow or cash strapped family? That's life.