Nosecap-less

[dave_person]

Here is a bunch.

dave

 

[Cowboy]

Here is a bunch.

dave

They’re absolutely beautiful!

Thanks for sharing Dave.

Respectfully, Cowboy

 

[FlinterNick]

I think nose caps are more or less a matter of style and not so much a functional benefit of the gun. If the fore end splits off or cracks, then it makes sense to cap it.

LIke the early 1730 and 1740 Brown Bess was made Without a nose cap and have had been capped in the field with sheet brass or copper Or some even capped with tin.

I’m working on a Track of the Wolf Bess kit now and was considering capping it, but changed my mind. The forestock on the Track of the Wolf Stock is pretty clean cut and tight to the muzzle, no need for it Other than decorative.

 

[Zonie]

IMO, the nose caps on the non-military longrifles is there to keep the forward part of the stock from splitting.
The wood in that area is very thin with some areas less than 1/16" thick so it has very little strength. This is why almost all of the longrifles have metal nose caps.
Finding a original, fullstock longrifle from the 18th and early 19th century without a nose cap is a unusual event.

 

[LuVerne Schumann]

IMO, the nose caps on the non-military longrifles is there to keep the forward part of the stock from splitting.
The wood in that area is very thin with some areas less than 1/16" thick so it has very little strength. This is why almost all of the longrifles have metal nose caps.
Finding a original, fullstock longrifle from the 18th and early 19th century without a nose cap is a unusual event.

Most of the original nose-cap less guns I've seen have a swelling built into the wood at the muzzle, I imagine for exactly that reason.

 

[Griz44Mag]

I think nose caps are more or less a matter of style and not so much a functional benefit of the gun. If the fore end splits off or cracks, then it makes sense to cap it.

LIke the early 1730 and 1740 Brown Bess was made Without a nose cap and have had been capped in the field with sheet brass or copper Or some even capped with tin.

I’m working on a Track of the Wolf Bess kit now and was considering capping it, but changed my mind. The forestock on the Track of the Wolf Stock is pretty clean cut and tight to the muzzle, no need for it Other than decorative.

The front nose on a Bess (and other military guns) also provides thrust support for the base of the bayonet.

 

[FlinterNick]

The front nose on a Bess (and other military guns) also provides thrust support for the base of the bayonet.

From what I’ve read about the Brown Bess Patterns 1730-1740, splitting forearm ends wasn’t really a problem until the advent of the steel rammer on the 1745-1755 upgraded Brown Bess.

Another issue with the nose cap was how it was installed, early on brass bands were folded on, and casted caps were peened on, this infact didn’t do much to strengthen the end grain of the gun, later models would use a screw and would coat the end grain with a type of shellac wax (to seal it up).

On Rifles Nosecaps protect the rather thin end grain and also act as a rammer guide And with the muzzle so close to the wood, the powder residue would darken the end grain and dry it out. some French Military Rifles and Carbines were made without nose caps, this was seen a flaw.

Personally I’ve always seen the nose cap as a permeate fixture that should never be removed, I bolt mine on and also seal up with a delicate shellac adhesive. The adhesive can be removed use by warming up the nose cap with a soldering iron.

 

[jonboyb]

Grabbed a pic of dads poorboy while we were shooting today.....you'll have to forgive his garbage piece of maple he used

 

[Griz44Mag]

LOL, If your dad ever decides to throw away that trash let me know.
I'll drive half way across America to dispose of it for him!