Is This Original Wood For A Maltby?

[mrclark303]

Interesting, I've always had a thing for Maltby No4's and all the examples I've ever studied are a right mixed bag of parts.

Not surprising really, as (from what I understand) Maltby was more reliant on outside contractors throughout the War, than Faz and BSA.

[oldfoneguy]

The woodwork looks honest and correct to me.

It's too bad someone, (not you I'm sure), shagged the draws in your forend by prying/rocking it off from the front. They look bad and need to be repaired. The purchase of a $10 Small Arms ID Series booklet before getting out the tools would have been a worthy investment but I digress.

Brian thanks for your assessment and I couldn't agree more about how it's been treated over time but in fact this rifle was a $25 pickup 36 years ago. Well to be more specific it was 1 of 4 for $100 plus tax of course. My favorite seller was moving to another location the next week and offered me his 4 languishing the longest in the rack milsurps instead of moving them. All were rode hard and put away wet including this No4 but at that price how could I say no? Being a 2 groove barrel and knowing nothing about them I like everyone else who looked at it figured it was a sewer pipe and nothing more than a wall hanger like the others. It took 35 years of it on the wall to realize exactly what I had other than the markings on it. There will be more write-ups coming on this rifle as much is in store for it including repairing the draws.

[Brian Dick]

It doesn't look to me like it's been treated badly overall. Even the excellent condition Maltby rifles can sometimes look a bit on the rough side. That's what tells me they're original and haven't been messed with. If the barrel gauges in spec and bolt is fitted together correctly, give it some love and fix the draws and it'll probably surprise you on the range.