Keeper Plate

[Rastis]

G'Day,
If the square has been cut off the stock bolt on a Lithgow SMLE, is there any need to leave the keeper plate in the forend.


Thanks,
Rastis.

Information

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[Thunderbox]

The keeper plate provides some structural integrity to the rear of the forend - it both increases the surface area of the interface with the butt socket, and also helps the brass threaded wire to keep the sides of the forend together.

In rifles with splitting or crumbling of the draws and fillet, I often glue the keeper plate in with wood glue as an extra reinforcement.