Patching the draws on a No4 forend

[Charlie Muggins]

The draws on my recently acquired '44 Maltby seem to have been absolutely ruined, quite possibly by tugging down from the front. Hopefully they'll recover a little after the linseed soaks in but I suspect I'll have to cut them out, patch and start again with the fitting.

Having digested a few manuals and Peter Laidler's excellent photo-essay on the subject I'm confident I can do the job but I wonder if you forumites (Fullboreans?) have any particular tips or advice? Most significantly I have a choice of Honduran mahogany, white ash or some sort of maple from my scrap bin; what would be appropriate, and what would a real armourer have used? (Might be able to find some walnut, rosewood or iroko if I dig about a bit.) Would copper or brass blocks offer a significant advantage, and would they be 'legal' for 'as issued' competitions?

[Gaz]

I'd go with walnut or mahogany if available. Something suitably hard, at any rate - I can't remember if the Canadians ever used maple or not for furniture. Metal blocks on the draws were a SMLE thing, and wouldn't pass muster if you wanted your rifle in as-issued configuration.

By the way, I have a spare forend knocking about somewhere if you want one on the rifle while you're sorting out the original.

[ovenpaa]

CM, I have a small off-cut of English Walnut here that you are welcome to if it is of use.

[DW58]

Aren't the stocks made from Beech wood - shouldn't be to hard to source?

[David TS]

Aren't the stocks made from Beech wood - shouldn't be to hard to source?

A '44 Maltby would probably be walnut, although a few beech stocked rifles may have escaped before the factory closed around 1947. The majority of beech furniture British produced No 4's were the late production Fazakerley No 4 Mk 2's from around 1947 onwards through to around 1955.

[DW58]

Aren't the stocks made from Beech wood - shouldn't be to hard to source?

A '44 Maltby would probably be walnut, although a few beech stocked rifles may have escaped before the factory closed around 1947. The majority of beech furniture British produced No 4's were the late production Fazakerley No 4 Mk 2's from around 1947 onwards through to around 1955.

Good point - my error.