TOPIC:

Hi all,

I am new to the forum.

I decided to join as I have a keen interest in historical and modern day firearms. I am an avid hunter and Sport Shooter here in South Africa.

My main reason for joining, is that through my firearms love and exploits I stumbled upon a interesting piece.

It is a .303 buttstock with amazing carvings on it. It has the year 1900 on it, and the reason I suspect it being a Boer War buttstock is a beautiful ZAR (Zuid Afrikaanse Republiek) emblem with "EENDRAGT MAAKT MAGT" circling the Emblem.

It also has the First Letter J. and surname Nel on the right side of the stock.

What are the chances ever getting hold of this original Nel family to return this piece? I recon its next to nothing...

Here are some pictures...






















Regards,

Quintin

www.boerwarriflecarvings.net/author.html

Quintin
The man to contact about your find is Dave George, who lives in Australia. The link above should get you started on the subject of carvings on rifle butts.
Regards
Brett

Quintin
The illustrated rifle butt-stock appears not to be from the period of the ABW; despite the carvings. Whilst some of the Lee Metford types did have butt discs, their stocks did not have a notch cut for the head of the safety catch on the LHS of the wrist - as shown in your third pic. Given the position of the butt disc hole (and the recess for the rear sling swivel mount under the stock), I would say that the butt stock is that of the later SMLE.
Regards
IL.

Brett Hendey wrote: www.boerwarriflecarvings.net/author.html

Quintin
The man to contact about your find is Dave George, who lives in Australia. The link above should get you started on the subject of carvings on rifle butts.
Regards
Brett

Thanks Brett,

I have sent him a messag via his web site.. I will wait untill he gets back to me..

@ Linneyl what you say makes allot of sence to me, and breaks my heart.. I will do a little more research...

If in fact it isnt ABW era, its still a very nice piece to hang in my bar..

Thank you so much for your replies..

Regards,

Quintin

I tend to think that is a post war forgery.