Lack of metal cap on forearm

[Howard]

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.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Peter Laidler]

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

[Howard]

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?

[Peter Laidler]

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.

[gsimmons]

I think the ones without the cap are earlier, my 1944 dated one does not have the cap.

[browningautorifle]

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.

[Daan Kemp]

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.

[Peter Laidler]

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!

[browningautorifle]

Threads 5 and 6 seem to contradict each other

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...

[bonnie]

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.