Here is a Woodward Automatic SLE that came in with internal cracks in the head of the stock at the top horns. The right horn had sprung upward because of the crack, allowing the toplever to come into contact with the wood. The gun had been completely refinished some time in the past (very common with English guns as the English don't generally engage in the original-finish "fetishism" that Americans do) and the edges of the stock surrounding the lockplates had been rounded well off. The drop-points were also rounded over. Missing completely was the anti-rattle spring for the triggers, and the cocking roller on the tumbler of the right lock was binding and would not rotate.
The cracks were repaired after removing the finish and soaked oil from the head of the stock. At that time I also restored the sharp contours that had been previously sanded away and refinished the head of the stock. I then fabricated the anti-rattle spring and repaired the roller in the right lock to finish the job.
The anti-rattle spring, whose purpose is to keep the trigger blades lightly pressed against the sear tails so that the triggers don't rattle.
The finished job. No doubt you'll notice that hallmark of an English refinish, buffed and heat-blued screw heads (ugh!). Since the slots were in good shape, the owner opted to avoid the expense of having new screws made.
