09/01/2026
Product comparison.
Smle CNC vs original product vs Ross R***e reproduction.
Finally got my hands on a CNC SMLE stock set.
First of all. I DO NOT work on other stocks except for mine. A customer brought it in for me to look at.
Starting with the forend.
I measured at the widest part on the belly two inches from the edge of the stock on trigger guard side for each stock I measured.
2 inches BSA original
1.98 inches lithgow original
1.88 inches CNC reproduction
2.06 inches Ross reproduction prior to sanding.
No images as i do not use a digital calliper. You have to take my word on that.
CNC is 0.10 inches less and that is prior to any sanding compared to original stock.
Other noticeable differences. All the original wood plus my reproduction has a nice curvature. While the CNC has noticeable flat sides. See images.
Around the trigger guard originals and ross repro again has a nice curvature. CNC is flat. A curvature could be placed, however there is no extra wood as the guard is flush with the stock. So care must be taken. See images.
Barrel channel.
Just prior to the barrel mid collar there should be an upset in the wood. Originals and my repro has it. CNC does not. This is there for barrel whipping. To help reduce it! See images. Look up lee enfield accurizing book. I’ll find a link and post it later.
Midband area.
Originals and again my reproduction has more of a curvature. CNC is there very slight but it should have more meat. As it stands even light finishing with 220 sandpaper the band may protrude out further. I did not do much fitting of the mid band. Some more material can be taken down in the channel, but not much. See image.
Handguard (long).
CNC does not have the distinct hump in it. Where the mid barrel collar rides. Compared to original and my reproduction. See images.
Rear hand guard seems ok. Some fitting is needed which i did not do.
Butt Stock
CNC has distinct flat sides. Originals do not. No extra wood to sand a curvature in it. Socket fits nice. There is extra meat to sand it down. Only thing that has extra meat on this set. Back end (Butt plate) is neatly done. However again no extra meat for final sanding.
I reproduce stock using old school pantograph. Using original stocks as a pattern. Not mass production by no means. SMLE is NOT an easy stock to make and have a r***e shoot decent.
I cannot compare the cnc draws as the customer did some work on them. When my forestock is put on it imbeds the draws into the wood.
There you have it.
***e
