+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 23

Thread: L1A1 Butt Fitting

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #1
    Contributing Member waco16's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Last On
    Today @ 05:29 AM
    Location
    South West, UK
    Posts
    330
    Real Name
    Neil Pearce
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    08:38 PM

    L1A1 Butt Fitting

    I have a matching 1961 BSA L1A1 that wears plastic furniture. I want to fit a set of woodwork to it.
    When I fit the Butt to the lower there is around a 2mm gap (beneath the rearsight) where it meets the lower.

    I have tried 2 different butts and they are both the same

    Any ideas?
    Information
    Warning: This is a relatively older thread
    This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

  2. # ADS
    Friends and Sponsors
    Join Date
    October 2006
    Location
    Milsurps.Com
    Posts
    All Threads
    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

  3. #2
    Contributing Member mrclark303's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Last On
    Today @ 11:11 AM
    Location
    The wild west of England
    Posts
    3,401
    Real Name
    Mr Clark
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    09:38 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by waco16 View Post
    I have a matching 1961 BSA L1A1 that wears plastic furniture. I want to fit a set of woodwork to it.
    When I fit the Butt to the lower there is around a 2mm gap (beneath the rearsight) where it meets the lower.

    I have tried 2 different butts and they are both the same

    Any ideas?
    We might want to move this to the Fal section...

    There should be a gap in that area, can you post a pic?

    Quite often you get butts with the area at the very top radiused away at a slight angle.

    This was an armourer fix to prevent splitting and you can often see a radius of between 2 and 5mm

  4. Thank You to mrclark303 For This Useful Post:


  5. Avoid Ads - Become a Contributing Member - Click HERE
  6. #3
    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Last On
    Today @ 01:16 PM
    Location
    Victoria BC
    Posts
    29,838
    Real Name
    Jim
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    01:38 PM
    I remember the FN C1s had a gap too... I wouldn't worry too much.
    Regards, Jim

  7. Thank You to browningautorifle For This Useful Post:


  8. #4
    Contributing Member waco16's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Last On
    Today @ 05:29 AM
    Location
    South West, UK
    Posts
    330
    Real Name
    Neil Pearce
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    08:38 PM
    Thread Starter

    False Alarm

    Oops....
    Thought I had put this in the FAL section

    I have attached some pictures before and after tightening the Butt bolt - it pulled right up!

  9. #5
    Legacy Member Paul S.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    04-08-2020 @ 06:58 PM
    Location
    Back and forth between Sydney and Southern California
    Posts
    1,594
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    03:38 PM
    I believe the gap is there for a purpose. Wood, unlike plastic, swells when wet since moisture is absorbed into the grain. Oiling the wood is also done to preserve the wood and reduce swelling. Having the gap prevents the wood from being battered by recoil should it be badly swollen.

  10. #6
    Advisory Panel
    Peter Laidler's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Last On
    03-24-2024 @ 09:52 AM
    Location
    Abingdon, Oxfordshire. The home of MG Cars
    Posts
    16,507
    Real Name
    Peter Laidler
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    10:38 PM
    Paul is correct. The gap, we say conveniently the width of a hacksaw blade was there to prevent the butt cracking in much the same was as did the butt edges when fitted to a No4. The butts without the slip patches were bad for splitting and a bit of a pig to repair. But we found that even the sip patched butts would split. The small gap reduced splitting right down. Nice rifles. On active service you always kept the same rifle. You got to know its every foible and trusted it. Even remember the serial numbers UB58A xxxxxx and AD 63-xxxx.

  11. The Following 2 Members Say Thank You to Peter Laidler For This Useful Post:


  12. #7
    Legacy Member newcastle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    07-15-2023 @ 02:48 PM
    Posts
    916
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    01:38 PM
    Timely post. I am trying to get the plastic buttstock OFF my L1A1 and I am completely flummoxed! I have taken the underside screw out, i have taken the screw out that appears like it should be holding on the Butt plate but nothing is budging. Any hints out there?

  13. #8
    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Last On
    Today @ 01:16 PM
    Location
    Victoria BC
    Posts
    29,838
    Real Name
    Jim
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    01:38 PM
    There's a slotted cap inside the butt that holds the butt return spring inside. It's a double spring with lots of compression. I used the correct tool, a long round stock that fit the hole in the center of the cap you'll see and it has a screwdriver and a cross handle. You have to watch you don't launch things. Look at an explodes view of the rifle butt before you start. Here's a pic, never mind it's an metric. The springs and screw is the same.
    Regards, Jim

  14. #9
    Contributing Member mrclark303's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Last On
    Today @ 11:11 AM
    Location
    The wild west of England
    Posts
    3,401
    Real Name
    Mr Clark
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    09:38 PM
    Adding to Jims post, the UKicon plastic butt has a retaining screw in the middle of the butt pad, remove this and use a small hook to remove the plastic ring.

    You will then see the slotted screw. I strongly advise you to borrow or buy the the butt fitting tool!

    Makes life much easier, believe me...

  15. #10
    Legacy Member newcastle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    07-15-2023 @ 02:48 PM
    Posts
    916
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    01:38 PM
    thank you - i have the tool all ready to roll.

  16. Thank You to newcastle For This Useful Post:


+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. No4 Butt length fitting?
    By Lashenden in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 24
    Last Post: 02-19-2019, 10:41 AM
  2. Fitting a fore-end to a no.4 MK2
    By rickw55 in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 11-27-2014, 11:02 AM
  3. No4 fore end fitting
    By aussiedave in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 02-23-2013, 10:50 AM
  4. Wanted: Cadet rifle butt stock and butt plate
    By Aragorn243 in forum Martini Henry Rifles
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 05-18-2010, 09:55 PM
  5. Fitting a new forestock to a No4
    By renick in forum The Restorer's Corner
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 01-28-2009, 01:34 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
Raven Rocks