Question about open-ended nose caps on mountain rifles

[stan57]

Did they somehow treat or seal the end grain of the stock with an open-ended nose cap, such as the one on the Keller rifle shown here: https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=64860.msg650629#msg650629



Or, was it just ignored and allowed to impregnate itself with fowling?

[Daniel Coats]

That one looks like it's lead filled same as my original east Tennessee.

[stan57]

You're right, it looks like oxidized or patinated lead.

Would this be appropriate on a Kibler SMR?

[Daniel Coats]

Here's a link to my original rifle.

https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=76446.msg758791#msg758791

[stan57]

Dan, Very cool rifle. Thanks.

[Daniel Coats]

Here's a link to a nice contemporary rifle built by a friend of mine. It has this same type of cap with great pictures.

https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=70585.msg711544;topicseen#msg711544

[stan57]

Very slick rifle. I'm mucho covetous.

[scottmc]

I have one that is just wood and doesn't appear to have been treated with anything more than a touch of oil or just oil from the patches when started.  This rifle caused a little stir with the boys at Knoxville I hear.  I sent it south with a friend of mine to see what they thought and it's stamped WD but they couldn't come to agreement on if it was or wasn't a WD.

[stan57]

Thanks scottmc. Good data point - I wondered how bare wood would stand up at the muzzle.

[Daryl]

If not WD, what pray tell did they think it was?

[scottmc]

If not WD, what pray tell did they think it was?

Stan,I personally think it would do OK since the oils from the patch would get to that area but if it was me building one that way, I would gently feed the end some thinned oil or whatever you might use for finish, just for some added protection.  It would be hard to do with a q-tip.

[scottmc]

If not WD, what pray tell did they think it was?

Daryl, some thought it may have been a periodic restock of a wd barrel but someone really good.  The trigger gaurd and toe plate wasn't indicative of a typical william Douglas but my thought is it was an earlier gun of his.  The tang and treatment of the tailpipe area is almost identical to a couple that I've seen.

[WadePatton]

If not WD, what pray tell did they think it was?

Looks like "VV" and "D" stamping to me. The symmetry of the "W" had me thinking it was cut, until I zoomerd in on it.  Overlapping "V's" to make a "W" with full intent to make a "W" is my guess.

Dubya Dee
 

[scottmc]

I butchered a couple those sentences but I think you know what I mean😁

[scottmc]

If not WD, what pray tell did they think it was?

Looks like "VV" and "D" stamping to me. The symmetry of the "W" had me thinking it was cut, until I zoomerd in on it.  Overlapping "V's" to make a "W" with full intent to make a "W" is my guess.

Dubya Dee

Wade, good observation!  I never picked up on that but you may be right.  Each "V" is uniform and symmetrical.

[Waksupi]

I don't recall ever seeing a nose cap on a trade gun. Never noticed any particular damage either.