Strange Australian SMLE buttstock shape

[BurtonP]

I got a new project SMLE to restore and was pleasantly surprised that it was a 1915 BSA, with a ton of Australian stamps. It had clearly had a long service life in Australia and seems to have been rebuilt at some point, with WA, and BA stamped parts. Also, the top rear handguard and the butt stock are a light wood (coachwood?) The question I have for the forum concerns the odd profile of the buttstock. When I bought it I assumed post service life reshaping, but now that I've stripped off the varnish I'm not so sure. I think the part nearest the wrist has lost some wood, but the convex "crest" has me stumped. Compare the stock with a more typical SMLE stock pictured.

Is this an aberration or some Australian quirk?

Cheers,
Burton

Information

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[BurtonP]

On closer examination, the stock has been thinned, so I guess it must have been reshaped. Shame, I wanted to retain the classic Australian coachwood, but I guess I'll swap it out.

[BurtonP]

Well, the forestock has turned out to also be coachwood, so back to plan A and use the butt. At least the whole rifle will be the same wood now.

[Nigel]

This might prove to be a good match. Looks like Coachwood with Australian markings and made by Slazenger. For the bigger framed it is also a long butt.

[BurtonP]

Sure looks right. Is that a stock you might part with Nigel?

[BurtonP]

So, with a few more coats of BLO and perhaps some more dye, I think this one is done. All of the wood seems to be coachwood (except a bit I added to the buttstock to restore the profile). I didn't do my usual dark colour dye to cover repairs and mismatched wood, because I wanted the lighter colour to show somewhat. All the replacement parts except the magazine are from Australian factories, so I think I've got it as close as I can to it's pre-sporterization form.

.

Now to see if it's a decent shooter, but it seems to have a good bore on the 11/'44 replacement barrel.

Cheers,
Burton

[Nigel]

If I could trade t for an English Walnut long butt I would.

[BurtonP]

Which I would also love to have. Sadly I don't.

[BurtonP]

Getting closer on the colour match, and I added a Sheffield Chapman 1907 bayonet, cut down in Australian service.
B.

[browningautorifle]

a Sheffield Chapman 1907 bayonet, cut down

What markings does the bayonet have? I had one that started as a hook quillion and was cut, then remarked for WW1, WW2 and eventually cut for African service with their constabulary I think it was. Looked just like that one. It came with the correct shortened 1907 scabbard too.