Have to agree with Tony on that one: Coachwood was the latter standard for SMLE stocks, but any rifle going though FTR conversion to .22 could well have been re-equipped with a new set, or partial set, of woodwork to replace any 'dinged' parts. I remember examining many rifles during the last sales of .303 SMLE rifles and noting the mixture of timber parts, especially on rifles that were marked FTR. Walnut, coachwood, or Queensland Maple - made no difference to the assembler who wasn't looking for pretty matched timber, just a complete and functional rifle. There were literally thousands of sets of spare coachwood timber held in Defence stores for years, so they were certainly available if required for the FTR rifles in the 1950s.
Fortunately I ended up with an early 1920s Lithgow .303 SMLE with matching numbers, woodwork AND a WW1 issue hessian rifle bag, still new in its paper wrapping, from the armoury at Bandiana. (in the days when the Federal Govt still sold off firearms to the public!)
Mike C
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10-03-13, 05:55
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