Speed-Lee markings

[Jc5]

I honestly have several buttstocks

Can you please identify the buttstock that was attached to the carbine when you bought it, and post a picture of it? That is the only one that matters to the history of this rifle.

Thanks!

[EnfieldNutt84]

The one which was attached is the LB size small one from the original pictures without a butt disk, the initialed one came along with it so im thinking it might be original, it has no cut outs for a saftey, and the knob bottom pasrt of the buttstock handle part where your hand goes is rounded, perhaps an unfinished surp part or maybe they made rifles with them this way, it uses the same standard enfield buttplate. I will post pics of both shortly.

[Jc5]

OK, looking forward to the buttstock pics. Thanks!

Getting back to the nosecap. The replacement nosecap that you put on has broad arrow marks on it by your description. The BP-type marks you mention---I don't know without pics--they are probably view marks and shouldn't be confused with the Crown over BP etc. proof marks. In any case, the marks on THAT nosecap don't matter to the history of the carbine.

I'm more interested in the nosecap that came with it. It may be a welded up bubba, but WHY and from what was it made? I cannot get past the resemblance to the Martini-Metford nosecap and also the lugless nose cap on the Trials carbine shown on page 445 of Skennerton. Why would somebody weld up such a thing when the Pattern 88 nosecaps were available? Anyone want to go out on a limb and starting thinking "trials" and "prototypes"? No, not too seriously...just letting my imagination wander...

EnfieldNutt, are there ANY stamps, numbers, or markings on that original nosecap?

[EnfieldNutt84]

The nosecap Im pretty sure is made from steel, it looks as if it was an original one, but maybe was messed up a bit, so someone sawed off the front of it? The is a total loss of markings on the nosecap, it does look like it has been welded into its shape. My uploading cable for the camera was apparently borrowed without me knowing, when it returns I will have more pictures to add.