Thread: Doing up battered Smelly

Paid $300 for a 1917 BSA Mk III*. Have had some real fun getting it looking fairly right again.

Has had some grinding to the sides of the charger bridge and was missing its safety, and a prominent cheekpiece was installed, normal open rear sight missing. Very comfy on the cheek. Looks like it was used as a target rifle with a rear diopter sight.

Anyway the ugly 'Pterodactyl comb' cheek piece had to go, but as bubba had shaved the comb of the stock flat to mount it, I decided to leave most of it, reconstructing the back of the comb from the cheek pad rear and leaving a hint of sniper cheekpiece up front, IMHO prettier than a standard LE sniper cheek pad.

Cannibalised a shot out sporter for the bits. (Her "heart" is going to another project. So shot out I may need to buy some .32 bullets from shooternz).

Had fun with the wood at the right side of the receiver. What WAS bubba up to??? Anyway, removed the softwood inlay and filled up everything with walnut taken from a branch I trimmed off in the garden last year. Mistake: it's sapwood, not heartwood, so less grainy and harder to colour to look like the rest. Made up iron acetate wood stain from a steel wool pad and a glass of white vinegar together 36 hrs. Works a treat, but had to use some tea and furniture restorer colour pens too. Needs varnish.

Still need to bed the receiver / lugs but have a feeling she'll shoot straight with shooternz's 204-grainers on order.