Quote Originally Posted by Surpmil View Post
The condition of the butt does not match the condition of the metal and if it was refinished, someone did a very skillful job of polishing before it was blued. Those edges look awfully crisp, square and original to me, but I claim no expertise on Lithgows. Could it be a barreled action that was set aside or even sold off at some point between the wars and later completed or restocked, in or out of service? Is it a long butt? Looks like it. If so, it might have been used for that reason, instead of one that matched in coachwood. Just looking along the sharp edge at the top of the receiver wall above the boltway in this photo, is that a succession of small dents along the 'sharp' edge? If so, and there's no loss of finish around them, you've probably got a reblue; in service or out I have no idea.

Looks like the flat of the Nock's Form does is out of alignment with the flat on the barrel ring(?)
https://www.milsurps.com/attachment....8&d=1385183755

The butt has been on the rifle from its manufacture in 1921. Very often when forwoods were replaced, the original butts were retained.

Also I think there is no doubt the metal has been refinished.

Overall it looks a very legitimate rifle repaired in 5/44