Buttplate differences

[Garandrew]

Buttplate on 1944 dispersal FTR/ZF..from No4?



Buttplate on 1941 dispersal rifle

Information

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[bouletbill]

Yup , I was expecting to see the rounded tab on top , because there was no oiler trap nail grip.
I've got a '39 BSA MkIII which had been re-stocked with a No4 Butt . Took me years to find a No1 Butt . However , since yours was FTR'd after the No4 was introduced , then the butt may still be an original , it looks old and walnutty (mine was beech) and may have been re-cut for the rounded tab . The pointed No1 tabs sometimes split the top wood and you often see repair pieces fitted .
Incidentaly , your serial number seems to pre-date my L605XX !

[Peter Laidler]

We didn't differentiate between the No1 and No4 butt plates. The No1 butt plate was very probably the very first part to be listed as NLA (no longer available) together with the sling loops and screws. One of the early 50's No1 EMER's details this and the use of No4 parts instead. The No1 rifles used as EY rifles had really battered butt plates and these were always changed for the No4 type. We did a big batch of Lanchesters for the Royal Navy and some from an Australian Navy submarine in the 60's and these were all fitted with No4 butt plates and sling loops/butt brackets. The Aust Lanchesters and their matching bayonets were all marked R.A.N.

I think I've said it before but the Submarine went off to patrol the South China Sea from Singapore and the Lanchesters stayed in the main workshop armoury. They were still there when I left and not long afterwards the whole thing closed. Quite where the Lanchesters ended up is anyones guess!

[Garandrew]

Possibly originally installed in 1944?

[Mk VII]

Attempts to combine the 'wrong' buttplate with the 'right' butt usually look poor, with bad wood-to-metal fit, without extensive patching which rather renders the exercise pointless. I've settled for a No.4 butt on a No.2, and don't think the result looks any the worse.

[bouletbill]

MkVII , I think you're quite right , and I guess No4 butts on '40s FTR'd No1's was a common set-up , but it niggled at L-E shoots at Bisley when so many "perfectionists" would say ... Nice gun , shame about your butt ! Now I know LERA can be an odd bunch but I decided I just had to get it corrected or else I'd end up with a complex .