Is this...well....anything?

[kennymo]

There are what appear to be two arrows painted on the left hand side of this 1917 Lithgow butt. Just curious if they have some meaning, I know about the DP and cadet rifle stripes but can't seem to dig up anything on these. Or is it just something done later on for no particular reason? The stock came off a rifle too bubba'd to be easily restored so I'm putting nicer sporter wood on it to be used for hunting. (Can't stand to waste a nice bore, even if it's 1/2" shorter than it should be)



I'm using the butt to practice bringing out some of the dings, which are more than plentiful on this example, and see if I can't make some of the original stampings on the other side visible.

 

[37patt]

Looks to me like Arabic numbers. In this case it could be a rack number of 87. Point down is the number 7 and point up is number 8.

 

[Claven2]

It could also be "AV" and they may be the initials of the owner of the sporter.

Looks like a queensland maple butt, nice find.

 

[kennymo]

It would seem odd to me to find an old military marking painted on this particular stock, as someone went to some effort to remove the MD number, original serial no's and proof marks from the top of the receiver/barrel area. They left that nice Lithgow crest alone thankfully, but ground a flat on the other side of the wrist to add a serial number. The original stampings on the other side of the stock are quite faint, though I've managed to bring out an HV (regulated for Mk VII ball), a III and what looks to be either an original serial number or Military District number. I can't tell if it was ever sanded though, or if the markings are faint from wear and tear (a lot of it on this gal).

 

[mrbeil]

Hey Kenny, why don't you just do your best to restore it instead? Just trim everything down a half inch to make it fit

 

[kennymo]

Hey Kenny, why don't you just do your best to restore it instead? Just trim everything down a half inch to make it fit

I have another action of the same vintage with all the markings and proper barrel length if I decide to go that route. That one needs a stock! Not enough early Lithgow wood to go around I'm afraid. Just trying to figure out whether or not the paint should stay on as I tidy up this stock. It does look old, much more covered in oil/grime than the crap that was done to the metalwork.