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There is no metal cap on the forearm of the stock that I ask about cleaning in an earlier post. The nos. match on the stock so I do not think it has been changed. Is it less common than ones with metal caps? I have Skennerton's book on the No. 5 but not much is said about the difference.
Any information would be helpful, thanks.
The metal caps were nothing but a water trap and even worse, in the coastal areas, a salt water and rust producing trap that you could never cure. We didn't like them so before they got beyond hope, we'd knock out the rivet (s?), remove the end caps, drill out the rivet hole, knock a wood plug in and make good. Make off the fore-end and be done with it. Stand in linseed bath for 16 hours and end of problem.
Might not suit the ideas of an originality fiend but we dealt with the reality of the situation. Done hundreds of them
Thank you for your reply Mr. Laidler. Sounds like you had a good solution to not traping water. Mine does not appear to have had a cap on it at all. Were more done with or without caps or is there no way to find out?
I really don't know which were early or later fore-ends but there was clearly a difference. However, there was only 1 part number and whatever type came through was just pot luck. The later ones we got all seemed to be converted from UK supplied No4 stocks. Same as butts and handguards too.
I think the ones without the cap are earlier, my 1944 dated one does not have the cap.
That's right, early ones had the steel cap, like the early bayonets had the single screw...later no caps and later double handle screw.
No 5 Rifle? If you do a search you will find this has already been discussed. Fore ends are correct as issued with or without the metal cap.
Threads 5 and 6 seem to contradict each other unless I'm reading it wrong. What you got against the one part number was pot luck. Year, early or late didn't come into the equation! Same as bayonet grips. Some came as one hole, some came as two hole..... It was pot luck!
Nope, we're saying the same. I'm just agreeing with him that the cap came early, then went away. Then I referred to bayonet handles...Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Laidler
Had two 46 dated Fazakerley No. 5 rifles, both close to new and very close in serial numbers. Both had the metal cap forearm.
Have a Fazakerley No. 5 rifle, dated 45, that doesn't have the metal cap. It is number matching but obviously rebuilt as it has a No. 4 butt stock very nicely converted to a No. 5.
The July, 1944 parts list for the Rifle No. 5 Mk.1 does not list a metal cap, also the pictures of the stock fore-end do not show a metal cap fitted. The picture of the bayonet shows the early single grip screw fitted.
That was the only parts list we had and were still using it into the mid 60's. There were a few stick-in amendments as I recall, relating to odds and sods but nothing spectacular. I do remember one lot of grips of the NO-hole variety!
The early rounded cap was a trial & only fitted in small numbers, very rare.
I'm not toooooo sure about that 5th Batt. We had all sorts and all sorts came as replacements from/with the same part number. If I remember too, there was also a little short one, similar to but shorter than the closed-end No4 type. If one or other of the others were obsolescent or obsolete it'd be in the parts list like the PLATE, insert or the early type No5 grenade launcher. The insert plate was another biut that was made to rust out. Just take it out and leave it out!
I have two No.5's, one dated 2/45 H ser.no has a second type metal cap on the forearm, the other one dated 5/45 I ser.no has no metal cap on he forearm. both are Fazakerley.
I thought you told us about getting one side that would be one hole and the opposite scale would be two hole...which would be handy.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Laidler
That's right BAR. No5 parts were a bit of a mix and match at the bast of times.
I have two NO.5's and one is dated 2-45 with H ser. No. the other is 4-45 with I ser. no.
the 2-45 has a 2nd type metal cap and the 4-45 does not have a metal cap. Both are Fazakerley.
---------- Post added at 02:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:20 PM ----------
sorry about the double post I did not look on the second page and thought it had not gone through.