Reproduction SMLE stock

[Colonel Enfield]

I was going through my photo collection earlier and found this pic I snapped at the Lithgow Small Arms Museum a few years ago - it's a Lithgow SMLE Mk III* with an experimental Bakelite stock.

Attachment 79332

Bakelite turned out not to be great for making rifle stocks with (couldn't handle the pressures generated when the rifle was fired repeatedly), but modern polymer plastics would be more than up to the task - so it's certainly possible and feasible to make a reproduction SMLE stock out of modern plastics that would look and function like the originals, while being considerably cheaper to make and more durable than wood...

[Flying10uk]

Find a forearm that it in good condition is a problem.

Has anyone ever looked into seeing whether or not it's possible to modify a No4 Fore-end into a SMLE Fore-end? It may seem unthinkable to some but I do wonder if it's possible; it would require some extra wood grafting onto the front of the No4 Fore-end plus some other alterations.

[Bindi2]

There is a sporter stock available in plastic now. Maybe those people could be asked to make a full length forend for a No1 Mk3. Be interesting to see how the stock handled the harmonics and heat from range use.

[Strangely Brown]

Bakelite turned out not to be great for making rifle stocks with (couldn't handle the pressures generated when the rifle was fired repeatedly), but modern polymer plastics would be more than up to the task - so it's certainly possible and feasible to make a reproduction SMLE stock out of modern plastics that would look and function like the originals, while being considerably cheaper to make and more durable than wood...

An old friend now deceased once told me about a visit to AJ parkers in the 1950's as part of the RAF Rifle Team.
Whilst there one of the team saw an SMLE with target sights in SR"b" configuration with unusual figured furniture. It turned out to be Lignum Vitae
and at that time AK Parker's were experimenting with it on the basis that the heavy wood could be useful in target rifles.
The team were allowed to borrow the example for trials but it did not produce the goods in the way of reasonable scores and it was returned to parkers.
I've often wondered if it's still out there somewhere?

[Surpmil]

Have a look at this site: PPHU Fox - Wooden stocks

Not CNC, but very nice work from what I can see.

[bigduke6]

Have a look at this site: PPHU Fox - Wooden stocks

Not CNC, but very nice work from what I can see.

They do look good quality, I've been searching for DSM 34 stock for some time, one I have was sporterised........

[Enfieldlock]

Hi everyone

Is there a list anywhere on these forums for suppliers of reproduction SMLE stocks?

I have searched but my google-fu is weak, o only really came up with the EFD site. Unfortunately 190 pounds does not convert well to AU dollars

Thanks in advance

I surmise that once they are gone, there won't be any more as the proprietor of EFD has just died.

[Roger Payne]

Sorry to hear it. Geoffrey called me about a month ago & told me that things were not looking good, but I hadn't expected anything so soon. RIP.

[Surpmil]

Very sorry to hear that about Mr. Organ.

Were the stocks not made by Colin Moon, or was it just his machinery?

[BushyFromOz]

That's a terrible shame