Source of Cheek Rest Screws?

Grant580 did you discuss cheek rest screws with Dick? (Started new thread to a void hijacking the transit chest thread)


"By the way, while searching for British hinges and various screws for my boxes I came a across a fellow in the U.S. who specalizes in strange and hard to find hardware, nuts and bolts etc,,. His website is http://www.blacksmithbolt.com and he sells the hard to find screws to fasten the lid hasps and posts to the boxes. His name is Dick Naven and he has bent over backwards to help me find those screws and is highly recommended in case anyone is interested."

I have tried the current non-brass offerings, functional but the heads are not countersunk. Thoughts? Maybe we could do a "run" of screws for those who are interested?

Surely there can't be a shortage of old brass or steel No8 (or is it 10) 1.25 and 1.5" long countersunk screws for the cheek rest can there? They are readily available in the UK from any (?) of the high street iron mongers...................... Or am I missing something?

I would first take Peter's advice, they surely cannot be that special, but if you cannot find them locally try here - they are advertising brass set for £6.00 the pair:

VALMONT FIREARMS lee enfield

I've got tons of brass ones lying about. Haven't managed to find the correct steel ones, though tbh, I haven't looked very hard.

Don't go for Valmont's brass screws!!

He sent me Philips head screws as originals. as far as I am aware they should be single slot ONLY?

It seems to me the last time (day or two ago) I did a search on Evil bay, the brass and steel ones both came up. I didn't think to ask Dick Niven about cheek rest screws when I talked to him last Cold Zero, but will next time I talk to him. Dick's website is http://www.blacksmithbolt.com if anyone cares to search his sight.

They are bog standard 8 gauge steel woodscrews with slotted , countersink heads. Will cost 10c from your local hardware store. The front one is inch-and-a-quarter and the rear one is inch-and-a-half. They look like the screws in the second of the picture posted above. Don't buy brass, nor ones with domed or flat-dome tops, nor ones with Phillips slots. They should be lined up with the right hand side of the action, and if I recall correctly the rear of the cheekpiece is 75 mm (3 inch) from the buttplate.

Brass were an authorised alternative. Always used in the tropics

In the UK. twin thread," bright zinc plated " screws have replaced the old "self coloured" single start screws
they are out there but not from the local hardware store. I am finding the ones I need on Evil bay looking for NETTLEFOULDS wood screws.
(see you in a bidding war !!!!!!)

on a sniper chest that is going to get painted as long as they are slotted head,s the thread form and bright zinc plating will not matter ....BUT would you like to look at two shiny screw heads on your No4(t)

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Originally Posted by RobD

They should be lined up with the right hand side of the action, and if I recall correctly the rear of the cheekpiece is 75 mm (3 inch) from the buttplate.

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I'm certainly no expert, but I have to question that statement. My 1951 sniper pamphlet makes mention of ensuring that the cheek piece is properly fitted to the individual sniper, and to take the rifle to the unit armourer if it needs to be adjusted.

I've been keeping the steel slot heads we pull out of old jobs we have to dismantle at work(joinery and cabinets). If you really can't find any send me PM and I'll send you some. I might not have 1 1/4" but drill your pilot hole to the correct diameter and use a cut down 1 1/2". I might have the 1 1/4 anyway, just cant recall exactly this minute.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Baal

I've got tons of brass ones lying about. Haven't managed to find the correct steel ones, though tbh, I haven't looked very hard.

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I am in a similar boat, brass no problem. Have not made it a mission to find them but look whenever I am in a hardware store or spot a can of odd screws in a shop. Not that easy to find, here anyway.

Baal, the instruction that the the screws should be in line with right edge of the action and the rear of the cheekpiece is 75 mm (3 inches) from the buttplate comes from the main gunsmith at Fultons of Bisley. But then again what does he know.

I'll accept that it's standard practice to locate the cheek piece as you say as a general rule of thumb. But rule of thumb only. My sniper training pamphlet says "Explain that the purpose of the cheek rest is to provided comfort when aiming with the telescopic sight fitted; it must not interfere with the grip of the right hand and it is permissible for the unit armourer to effect alterations to suit individuals. With the men in the aiming position, discuss with each in turn if their cheek rest is satisfactory and if not, arrange to have them modified."

In looking at my own No4T, the screws are slightly to the left of the right edge of the action and the rear of the cheek rest is 3.5 inches from the butt plate. For me, this is less than ideal as I'm left-handed and there is a high spot on the front left edge of the cheek rest that sits uncomfortably under the lower part of my thumb. I've considered relocating the cheek rest further back, or trimming the high spot down, but so far have decided to leave it as issued.

my old no1 mk111 snipe has the brass version screws, i was missing one so i raided dads tool bbench. Here i found an assortment of both the steel and brass screws that fit.
good luck
regards
Fergs

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Baal

I'll accept that it's standard practice to locate the cheek piece as you say as a general rule of thumb. But rule of thumb only. My sniper training pamphlet says "Explain that the purpose of the cheek rest is to provided comfort when aiming with the telescopic sight fitted; it must not interfere with the grip of the right hand and it is permissible for the unit armourer to effect alterations to suit individuals. With the men in the aiming position, discuss with each in turn if their cheek rest is satisfactory and if not, arrange to have them modified."

In looking at my own No4T, the screws are slightly to the left of the right edge of the action and the rear of the cheek rest is 3.5 inches from the butt plate. For me, this is less than ideal as I'm left-handed and there is a high spot on the front left edge of the cheek rest that sits uncomfortably under the lower part of my thumb. I've considered relocating the cheek rest further back, or trimming the high spot down, but so far have decided to leave it as issued.

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Baal, I'm afraid that in the day the rifle was used, there was no such thing as a left handed shooter. Nobody completed basic until they passed right handed.

Spot on about the adjustments, though. Id agree they'd have a "starting point" for the cheek rest at the factory. With the Lithgow snipers, the cheekrest and screws, and the trigger guard screw swivel, were added to the chest as options to be fitted by an armourer to suit the shooter. In fact, none of the cheekrests actually fitted onto the butt without modification.
This is evident by the spare HT butts that were available a while back- they had the cheekrests screwed on, but not fitted at all!

Attachment 20520

How many do you need? I've got plenty in Parkerized steel or brass. Your choice.

Thanks Brian, will send email.

Thanks to everyone who has offered as well, very much appreciated.