1943 US made Enfield

[Peter Laidler]

Another 'fault' or mistake amateur stock finishers make is this....... Wet the tips of your fingers and wipe them vertically around the curvature, over the top and bottom of the butt and bottom of the fore-end (and handguards if you're so inclined). If it's smooth then all is well. But if you can feel ridges then that would mean marks taken off. I accept that it's a bit pedantic but those sorts of things were how the instructors marked our work. Ridges mean that sometime in the past the wood has been scraped or sanded without the due care it should have had and not made good afterwards. Not that I have ever had to actually give marks for anothers rifle woodworking/repair skills but have had to pass comment. But it's well known that all the old time Armourers - me included I'm ashamed to say - secretly 'judge' others work.