1954 Fazakerley top handguard

[enfieldman]

Hello,
Did ROF (F) install walnut furniture on some of their 1954 No.4 Mk.2`s?
Especially on the `Irish Contract` #`s. I have a beech stocked `54 (F)
No.4 Mk.2, but i have encountered some F/54 stamped walnut furniture
and i`m wondering if this` fake` stamped! There is a lot of fake stamping
out there. Maybe Peter L. can help?? Thanks, Phil.

Information

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[Frederick303]

I have seen Irish contract rifles in the late 1953 to very early 1954 time frame that had dark wood that is or might have been walnut. Here are some serial numbers (less the last few digits)


11/53 PF 3125xx Used, good condition but stock dark
12/53 PF 3097xx Good condition but used, stock seems to be walnut
12/53 PF 3131xx Well used, walnut stock
2/54 PF 3210xx NIW, pealed back portion shows dark forend and buttstock

Those are the only data entries I have from 259 entires so far, out of 31,553 serial number range that have walnut or dark wood that could be walnut.

[Peter Laidler]

Yep, loads of them were finished in dark wood. A lot of the last wood and parts used by Fazakerley came from the 'close-downs'. The 'close-downs' were the factories and small concerns that were making the stuff that were closed down. All of the material that was produced was paid for and taken away for stock and the contract cancelled. Stuff that was contracted for but unfinished wasn't paid for but they were allowed to keep (from Sten gun research) to help them back into post war production. So for example, a company making radio chassis/bases that had turned over to making Sten magazine casings or, say, No4 upper bands could keep the steel that that already had to aid their return into commercial production of whatever. There was a LOT of post war barter too.

I have a couple of dark/walnut No4 fore-ends from F55 production.

But to be honest - and frank too - , we didn't give a toss what colour it was just so long as it was a reasonable match