No. 4 (T) stock sets

Having had the opportunity to look over 4 B.S.A. manufactured rifles converted to No. 4 T`s. With 2 being 1943 dated 1 1944 and the other 1945. While there were some variations in the markings and small parts suppliers on the rifles. The one thing they did all share is the manufacturer of their stock sets. All being marked (S.L./N74) William Sykes Ltd.

Also looking at other B.S.A converted 4 T`s on the web the great majority also have been stocked with Sykes sets .

This leads me to ask if B.S.A were supplied with their stock sets for the No. 4 almost exclusively by Sykes Ltd. Or were Holland & Holland specifically supplied or requested that the stock sets they fitted be supplied from Sykes?

I've always understood that H&H received complete rifles for conversion so they would have had whatever woodwork they were fitted with during manufacture by BSA.

I don't think H&H were expected to restock rifles so I think it's probably safe to assume that they left BSA wearing that woodwork (assuming none of the rifles you have seen have been restocked). Certainly from my observations nearly all 1944 dated rifles I've seen were stocked up in Sykes made walnut. I may have seen a few with N49 wood, but I'm afraid I've never noted this down so can't be sure. I certainly have a V prefix 1945 rifle with N49 (HM Co) wood, though from what I've seen N22 (JG) wood seems commonest on 1945 rifles.

If anyone has made a proper systematic study I'd love to know of it.

The fit of the woodwork was instrumental in the accuracy of the rifle and it was for this reason that exactly the same woodwork went back on the rifle after conversion. H&H weren't contracted to change or re-git woodwork. What it went IN with, it came OUT with.

Makes sense they would keep the furniture they came with; if the rifle shot well enough to be selected with that furniture then why change it?