Question re Lithgow

I've been looking at a 1941 Lithgow, and wondering if it is all correct. The buttsocket is quite bright, with no significant blue on it, but clear markings. The bore is very good. The buttstock is 1942 dated, with the correct HV and III markings. The nosecap, bolt, rearsight, receiver and forewood all match. However, the forewood is stamped Slaz 1943. The stamp of the serial number on the underside of the rearsight is quite a small font. I'm in Canada, but the rifle clearly spent time in the US as it has a IA Co import stamp and Australia .303 stamped on the right hand side of the base of the charger bridge. There are no FTR markings on the rifle.

Question: I could see it could be logical for a 1941 dated receiver to have a 1942 dated buttstock if it were a late '41 manufacture, but a 1943 forewood? The colour of the forewood is different, but it is numbered to the gun, as is the nosecap. Maybe a wartime replacement?

Thoughts? I'll try to get photos and post them in the next day or so.

Thx

Ed

Serial number & barrel date will help.

Lithgow changed from using 1941 dated receivers to 1942 dated receivers quite late in 1942 & in high C prefix range.

Post your pictures Ed.

Looking at it closely, it seems to be all original, matching. The barrel is dated 5 42, the rearsight is dated 1942, and all parts seem to be matching MA, but the forewood, while matching number, is Slaz 1943. Opinions welcome!

Ed

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Forwood has been replaced Ed.

That's ok, nice one.

I'm thinking a wartime replacement on the forewood? Bore is lovely. Should shoot very nicely I think.

Ed

Nice photo's.