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Fore-grips and butts could be patched with up to 3 patches but only 2 patches were permitted to the smaller pistol grip. However, slip and peg patches were permitted, in presumably any number, '... in the interests of economy'.
Butts were to be repaired using the same criteria '... given that such repairs are economically sound'. The instructions also state that following toe or heel patching that '... the service rifle butt plate may be used in lieu of the steel butt plate'. This meant that if the original butt plate was damaged or destroyed then a No. l or No. 4 rifle butt plate could be used. This opens up the question as to whether a Thompson gun still exists with a British No. l or No. 4 rifle butt plate fitted. Up to now, this could have been looked upon as a back-street bodge, but this information means that this was an official UK Military authorized repair. Additionally, the instructions state that '... screws butt plate and loop (sling loop) will always be used in place of those originally fitted should the need arise'. Fitting a No. 4 rifle butt plate to a Thompson butt was well within the capability of a service Armourer. But one fitted by an Armourer will be a perfect fit I hasten to add! What is interesting is that while the Armourers instructions make a great deal of repairing butts using current rifle spares, it doesn't mention the use of using the standard rifle sling loops which I thought would be an obvious choice. But I have no doubt that when a Thompson sling loop needed replacing, a rifle part was used in its place.
Stripped wood threads '... will always be repaired by plugging'. To the UK Military armourer, this chore consists of drilling out the old, stripped hole and squaring it internally with a chisel. Then shape a bit of hardwood to fit, then glue it in place. The last job was to make good, centre drill and drill out the core diameter for the screws. It also states that the No. 4 rifle butt plate can be used on the No. 3/P-14 and M17 rifle too.
It would be very interesting if a collector had such a modified butt or indeed other parts. There are several tell-tale signs of UK Military spec patches that I hope the illustrations will show. Can anyone take this matter further. It does show the dire straits that Britain was in and being deep in debt, we were forced to utilize and repair with what we had and not what we OUGHT to have.