No.4 Mk. furniture question

[enfieldman]

Were 1942 no.4mk.1 lee enfields stocked in beech furniture as original wood?
Rifle in question is a 1942 Maltby with all beech furniture and all marked H M Co. Ltd.
out of Glasgow I believe.
Would this be original for a 1942, or more likely replacement?
thanks
Phil.

Information

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[paul87buick]

I had a look in the book British small arms of ww2 by Ian Skennerton H&M are not listed under the manufactures of components.

[Thunderbox]

Fazakerley used beech in late war rifles, as did BSA in its remaining No1 production. IIRC some Maltbys did have beech fitted.

If the beech has a blackish tinge, then it may be original WW2. If its any shade from yellow through to mahogany red to brown, its usually a post war refurbishment.

[enfieldman]

Paul87Buick, in Skennerton`s `The British Service Lee` pg. 395 the list of No.4 & No.5
components-contractors- H.M. Co. Ltd.- H. Morris Co. Ltd. (N49), Glasgow. --Furniture.
Thunderbox, the furniture still has a lot of grease on it but is very dark shade, not black
but dark brownish bordering on black. What do you think? Phil.

[Peter Laidler]

Real world Armourers shop, worldwide - According to EMER's - 1963 to 1998. Next fore-end off the shelf that was not distorted, matched the remainder of the wood, matched the mk/type of rifle, fitted correctly and passed range and acuracy test

[Surpmil]

We've seen at least four 1941 Maltby No4s converted to T specs on this forum or the other one, all with Beech MkI forends. (Cutoff relief on side of forend)

[Patt14 No2]

If you look at "Wood Goes To War" made 1942 -1943 it shows H.M. & Co making No4 Mk1 furniture from both walnut and beech - I think that answers your question.

[enfieldman]

Patt14No2: I have already looked at the videos & I am satisfied. The rifle also has some
contractor marks that I haven`t seen before e.g. TEC ( in a circle), Trafalgar Engineering Co. & V.N.S. - Viners Ltd. (N79). Rifle is overall V.G., a nice find I believe.
Thanks One & All.... Phil.

[Roger Payne]

This is only a rule of thumb & no doubt someone will contradict me (!), but in general beech was used for much of the stocking up of early run of production No4's (1941 & 42 mfr), though by 1943 kiln dried American Black Walnut was in common use - at least on BSA made rifles. I have seen plenty of early UK made rifles of all three manufacturers wearing beech clothes, but by now it is usually quite darkened with oxidation & dirt/grime impregnation. I often have to look twice to check it isn't walnut. Of course this does not apply to Trials rifles which were originally all stocked up in walnut, but I have two 1941 BSA & two 1941 Maltby 4T's & all four are stocked in beech.

ATB