Is This Original Wood For A Maltby?

[Brian Dick]

The woodwork looks honest and correct to me. ROF Maltby used many different British contractors for both wood and metal parts. You'll find them with Savage metal parts installed too mid to late war. Many either don't know or have forgotten that Savage sent many spares that were placed into pooled stores and drawn from during production. I always shake my head when someone gets an honest rifle like yours and has to start changing parts around to make it "correct". We've talked about these things extensively over many years but those folks are still out there! I recently lost a sale because the 1918 Enfield Mk.III* had an early BSA cocking piece installed and the potential buyer didn't like it. God forbid it'd actually been worked on in service and the parts are not all "factory" correct. I decided to let him go and leave the rifle alone. He has a couple of those lovely Royal Tiger Import Ethiopian rifles that are much better! Yes, I'm being sarcastic but it's the truth. I could have changed out the part but the rifle is honest as the day is long and perfectly in spec as is.

It's too bad someone, (not you I'm sure), shagged the draws in your forend by prying/rocking it off from the front. They look bad and need to be repaired. The purchase of a $10 Small Arms ID Series booklet before getting out the tools would have been a worthy investment but I digress.