Commercial sporter stocks?

[Surpmil]

Were stocks being made at RSAF Enfield in the 60s and 70s(?) when the ENVOYs were produced?

From what I've seen of the PH, Churchill etc. sporters the wood is usually marked SILE, at least on the butts; would have to go and look at some forends to see about those.

That tends to suggest that either SILE was just the cheapest (quite possible in the 50s and 60s) or no one was set up to make stocks in the UK at that time?

If Colin Moon was involved in at least later ENVOY and L42 stocks, I suppose that also supports the theory that by that point at least, there was no one else?

[Alan de Enfield]

I believe that Enfield had closed dowm their woodwork shop which is why Parker Hale had to but the butts from Sile and the Forends from Colin Moon for the Enforcer.

[Surpmil]

I believe that Enfield had closed dowm their woodwork shop which is why Parker Hale had to but the butts from Sile and the Forends from Colin Moon for the Enforcer.

No doubt the machinery went somewhere then.

Saw a reference recently to the stocks for the Whittaker Specials being made at a London furniture factory. As in the "Wood Goes to War" documentary, the old-line factories would have had all the equipment to make whatever was required. The only question would be whether it was economic for them or the client to get it set up for a production run.

[Alan de Enfield]

Saw a reference recently to the stocks for the Whittaker Specials being made at a London furniture factory.

In 1916 the SSA woodwork was to be manufactured by the furniture manufacturers Waring & Gillows and Rudders & Payne, both of whom later dropped out of the scheme.

[Strangely Brown]

Saw a reference recently to the stocks for the Whittaker Specials being made at a London furniture factory.

This was the Goodwood Frame factory in Hackney owned by Victor Toogood; Bert Whittaker was given Victor's name by Peter Moon who was either involved (or running?) Sterling Armaments at the time.
Victor had been making wooden stocks for Sterlings AR180's to give them a more "sporting" look and appeal for the British gun market.
Bert Whittaker originally wanted Mansonia a west African tropical hardwood for his "Special"; Victor suggested Afromosia (African teak) because of its cost and availability, looking at the Whittaker's I have owned over the years it was a good choice!

Foot note:
Bert was a pipe smoker with a habit of tapping out his pipe on the heel of his shoe; Victor had to remonstrate with Bert that was something you didn't do in a factory where the floor was covered in saw dust and wood shavings!

Edited to add,

I have Victor's templates for the stocks in my attic!

[Surpmil]

No relation to Colin Moon I assume?

[Strangely Brown]

No relation to Colin Moon I assume?

None that I'm aware of; and yes I had to double check my research notes when I posted that!