Lehigh question

[Chris in SE PA]

I've seen original Lehigh rifles with nose bands. And I've seen some with nose caps. Was using a band instead of a cap a matter of saving brass/$$$ such as smaller bore size saving lead? Or was it a specific set of builders did it one way vs. the other? I can't really determine the answer from the books that I have. I'm doing a Roman Nose style buttstock similar to G Feder which is plate 60 and 61 in Kendigs book if that has any bearing or not, I don't know.

I ask because I'm at the point in my build where I need to decide how I'm going to make this one. I'm definitely putting some brass on the end, and not leaving it just wood like I did on my fowler. 

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

[Eric Kettenburg]

I don't think there was any rhyme/reason for it other than simply preference by any given person at any given time.  I definitely don't believe it was an issue of brass usage or availability, jmho, the minute difference doesn't really seem enough to matter.

My personal opinion is that those using the full wrap felt that it was stronger or better protection against forestock splitting, especially given the proximity to the forward barrel lug which creates a weak point in the forestock a predicate to a potential split as it's centered.  But, they just couldn't figure out how to attach an end piece to cover the exposed wood (or maybe just didn't care!).