The Raleigh O, where are the spaces that complete the headset stack height. If something has been removed then the locknut will snug down on the fork steer tube before the fork is set in place. That could be why it is tight but still seems to rattle arond in the head tube.

Or am I reading this wrong ? Just trying to throw something out there....

On thread, YES many times I have had a work stop because of some small part missing or one part won't cooperate.