Progress report: Sorry this is so slow and I have failed to take photos for you of the stock repair. The wood to metal fit of the top tang is immaculate now, unlike the photo above. However, I just had a lovely day visiting Darwin, where I left the rifle with Vic Pedersen to see what he thinks could be done.

My son who lives there took me to try out his own first rifle, a 1916 BSA SMLE. Young-uns - he couldn't help pulling the SMLE mag to load it. I must find him some charger clips, and based on its performance I also have to make him a couple of lead slugs to see what on earth is going on in that bore.

Hope to get an update in a few weeks.