Stock finishing

[Roger Payne]

When restoring a rifle's woodwork I never aim to make it look like new (unless a punter has specifically asked me to), but to try to replicate what Bruce in Oz referred to as the 'hand-grime' look. It's very difficult because it has been achieved by regular use, cleaning & handling over decades & so can't be readily reproduced exactly. However, you can get close by very sparingly rubbing shXXte into the grain towards the end of the linseeding procedure & lot & lots of gentle rubbing with something ever so slightly abrasive. I favour hessian sacking, if you can find some these days. I think this 'well loved but still looking good' sheen looks much better than 'brand new' on a one hundred year old rifle.

[Brian Dick]

I wouldn't spend money on those repro forends until the maker gets the draws right. They should be a bit oversize, not so short that you have to fill in the gaps with Marintex or any other substance.

Yes, Trichlorethane is nasty but it's also the best cleaner degreaser ever concocted on God's green earth. I had a five gallon container full that I got from a watchmaker friend in Florida many years ago. I worked that small supply for many years until I ran out. t's been banned here for a number of years but is still used in some industries or so I'm told. Can you even imagine working around boiling tanks of it?

I rarely scrape or sand any woodwork. I just clean and reoil it. I'm more concerned with the internal fit and wonder whay these CNC guys can never seem to make them as good as the originals. It befuddles the mind.

[Bruce_in_Oz]

As for "smelling like Grandma's place", a lot of Australian wood (Coachwood) appears to have also been treated with Creosote; a whole different smell.

I guess that treatment was to slow down the progress of rot and "wildlife" chewing away at the wood in some of those jungles.

[WillSarchet]

Brian,

Thanks for the input. I passed it along to him and hopefully he changes it - I don't have a lot of hope for finding five more untouched No1 forends without repros. For the one I already bought I'll have to work with what I have.

[Patt14 No2]

I have five new old stock fore ends PM me

[mrclark303]

When restoring a rifle's woodwork I never aim to make it look like new (unless a punter has specifically asked me to), but to try to replicate what Bruce in Oz referred to as the 'hand-grime' look. It's very difficult because it has been achieved by regular use, cleaning & handling over decades & so can't be readily reproduced exactly. However, you can get close by very sparingly rubbing shXXte into the grain towards the end of the linseeding procedure & lot & lots of gentle rubbing with something ever so slightly abrasive. I favour hessian sacking, if you can find some these days. I think this 'well loved but still looking good' sheen looks much better than 'brand new' on a one hundred year old rifle.

I had a look at one of the newly assembled No1mk3*'s that popped up in the UK 7/8 years ago, built up from unused BSA dispersal actions, South African marked NOS barrels, with No4 butts.

It occurred to me with a little gentle fettling to the sharp thick edges and overall finish, it could look 'so' much better.

To my eye, these rifles look way too much like a modern kit car version of a classic car, with the natural charisma of the SMLE killed stone dead...

If I could buy one cheap enough, I would be tempted to rework it as a usable rage rifle, that could be shot without concern to use and made to look a lot nicer.

[Bindi2]

It occurred to me with a little gentle fettling to the sharp thick edges and overall finish, it could look 'so' much better.
.

The sharp thick edges is how the came out allowing for some sanding out of damage by impacts etc. I have Lithgows which have been sanded to almost remove the stamps on the Butt that's how much wood has been removed. I have trails rifles that have never been issued. LATE 45 and 53 dated rifles that have seen little use are also proud. These are signs that can be read for the rifles history. I have early Lithgows with their original furniture and 100 plus years of scars. The same dated rifles with replacement furniture with little to no scars just don't look right. Mint early 1900 rifles just don't exist and ones made to look old are easy to pick.

[Roger Payne]

Well I have 'a small quantity' of SMLE barrelled actions in storage & also 'a quantity' of woodwork under my lathe bench, all ready for the time when I finally get round to 'throwing' them together. Most of the metalwork is BSA inter-war, but there are a few very nice tight WW1 dated examples as well. If lockdown carries on for long enough I might even get round to making a start! Busy at the moment getting repro brackets finished off & a few No32's refurbished & ready to sell.

Talking of modifying/prettying up woodwork, not long before they both passed away, Geoffrey Organ got a lot of No4 butts re-skimmed by Colin Moon to SMLE configuration, including the reshaping of the heel of the butt to take the SMLE butt plate. As part of a three way deal he also did a few for me. They wouldn't satisfy purists of course, but are perfectly functional, & look better than an unmodded No4 butt, at least, IMHO.

[Bindi2]

The purists don't like the No4 forends converted to fit the No5 either even though it was done by the MoD personnel.
Maybe they should have been called No5 Mk1/1

[mrclark303]

The sharp thick edges is how the came out allowing for some sanding out of damage by impacts etc. I have Lithgows which have been sanded to almost remove the stamps on the Butt that's how much wood has been removed. I have trails rifles that have never been issued. LATE 45 and 53 dated rifles that have seen little use are also proud. These are signs that can be read for the rifles history. I have early Lithgows with their original furniture and 100 plus years of scars. The same dated rifles with replacement furniture with little to no scars just don't look right. Mint early 1900 rifles just don't exist and ones made to look old are easy to pick.

I suppose 'the look' is a subjective thing, obviously none of us would sand or adjust an original rifle, but in my opinion 'very slightly' rounding off the edges
(carefully) will greatly improve the look of a new build.

Other options are available of course 😊