I have said this many times, but the last spare butts and fore-end parts that we had for No5 rifles were converted from plentiful No4 stockpiles. Obviously well done and the only truly visible (but pretty well invisibly done of course.......) way to tell was the slight line where the lightening slot in the fore-end was filled and plugged and the butt sling loop bracket recess was plugged. To be brutally honest, the fore-end end caps were all a complete waste of rations. Nothing but rust traps - so drill the rivet out and get rid of them.
Incidentally, I seem to recall that there were THREE types....... A simple 'full' end cap as per Lou's, closed at the front up to the barrel recess in the fore-end. A similar end cap but only partially closed up to the barrel trough and the third - a REAL rust trap if ever I saw one...., even more of a rust trap than an MGB - a cap that totally enclosed the end of the fore-end.
Great project but just a suggestion Lou, but why don't you strip it down and have it bead blasted and phosphated and painted as per the spec?
