SMLE nose cap help

[Uncle Nubbington]

Hi all, looking for any advice from a No.1 Mk III expert. I purchased a sporterized LE last year with the idea of trying to put it back into original configuration. I want to make it as period correct as I can. For now, I am omitting the long range volley sight and I'm not going to install a unit disk because that doesn't seem right to me since I have no idea where it's been.

Long story short, the biggest cosmetic problem I have is I don't know what to look for to find the correct nose cap. I bought one I have currently is a placeholder.

Rifle: 1914 BSA No 1 Mk 3.

My nosecap lacks the stacking swivel screws. As far as markings, there is a serial number on the bayonet mount. Squared off sight protectors. No indication of manufacture.

Anybody know about these? I really like shooting this rifle and I'd like it to look as close to original as I can. Below are pictures of the nosecap and the overall rifle. Your help is appreciated.

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[tjtM38]

I'm in the process of restoring an Ishapore 1940 No 1 MkIII. I am going through the same issue and would like to keep the gun as close to Ishapore standard as I can. I just got most of my parts and the nose cap I got is a rounded type which is probably more appropriate for a British or Australian manufacture. Yours looks like a square type which is more appropriate for the Indian manufacture Ishapore. Nice rifle you have; I hope I can get mine close to that nice when I am done with it. Bubba chopped the forestock and front handuard off on mine, but luckily, the barrel, sight and action are all original and intact.

[ffeng31]

The nosecap you have is for an Indian Enfield 2a or 2a1. Your rifle should wear a nosecap with the rounded ears.

[millman]

You guys should swap.

[Uncle Nubbington]

I'm in the process of restoring an Ishapore 1940 No 1 MkIII. I am going through the same issue and would like to keep the gun as close to Ishapore standard as I can. I just got most of my parts and the nose cap I got is a rounded type which is probably more appropriate for a British or Australian manufacture. Yours looks like a square type which is more appropriate for the Indian manufacture Ishapore. Nice rifle you have; I hope I can get mine close to that nice when I am done with it. Bubba chopped the forestock and front handuard off on mine, but luckily, the barrel, sight and action are all original and intact.

Those Ishapores are nice! Good luck with it. Did your Bubba leave the top rear hand guard? Mine didn't and that one was hard to find. I only kept the buttstock. Hey, at least they didn't cut down the barrels though. I understand this happens a lot and I didn't know that till after I bought it. Would have been SOL on that one! All in all, it's a really fun project and really rewarding in the end. I still need a proper sling and cleaning kit and of course the right nose cap. Did score a nice 1916 Wilkinson bayonet for a steal.

I'm wondering... On a late No 1 Mk III like you have, did they still use that magazine cutoff? I put one on mine but I'm not sure if you would on yours. My understanding is this was omitted along with volley sights in the No 1 Mk III*. I'm just not sure about the Ishapore ones manufactured later. Like yours.

[Uncle Nubbington]

The nosecap you have is for an Indian Enfield 2a or 2a1. Your rifle should wear a nosecap with the rounded ears.

I'd be happy to. It'd be a closer placeholder cosmetically, and he could have one that'd work for his. I've got a handful of unissued cross screws and I'd throw one in too. Numrich didn't have those but I bought 6 of them from some guy in England.

tjtm38 hit me up if you want to arrange a swap. Seems like win win for both of us.

[tjtM38]

The nosecap you have is for an Indian Enfield 2a or 2a1. Your rifle should wear a nosecap with the rounded ears.

Was the square type only for the 2a or 2a1? If so, I may have gotten the correct round type for restoration of my No 1 Mk III.

[ffeng31]

The nosecap you have is for an Indian Enfield 2a or 2a1. Your rifle should wear a nosecap with the rounded ears.

Was the square type only for the 2a or 2a1? If so, I may have gotten the correct round type for restoration of my No 1 Mk III.

Yes the square eared variant was a later piece, and as far as I know, only used on the 2A and 2A1 .308 rifles . I have a 1937 Ishapore , chambered in .303 , and it has rounded ears.

[1895mosin]

I found that Ian Skennerton in Australia quite helpful with British military arms.
He is very prompt with answers.

www.skennerton.com/

[desdem12]

ffeng has it right. You need a rounded top ear. Should be around several places. He is also correct on the ishapore cap current. There are early types for the smle (prior to the no1 proper) They have a curved inside. You need the later version for yours.

[etprescottazusa91]

Many early No 1 rifles went thru upgrades later that eliminated parts such as the stacking swivel on the nose cap, where the rifle ended up will also help determine correct configuration, BSA rifles sent to Australia, for example, are often configured differently, replaced the stocks with coachwood, the Aussies eliminated the ID disk stuff like that, got a pic of the receiver markings?