BSA Siamese contract SMLE

[Thunderbox]

No reason why you shouldn't shoot the rifle, so long as your wood repairs are strong and there is a good forend fit. Just about any badly crumbled forend can be rescued, given the strength of modern glues.

I'd have straightened the keeper plate and glued it back into the forend. It adds to the strength at the back of the forend, so something should be put there. Some threaded wire or a No4-style backstrap can be useful.