SMLE No1 MKIII nose cap screws

R

ricohman

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
64   0   0
Location
Saskatchewan
I have a 1917 SMLE No1 MIII that has an abomination of a nose cap screw. I also have a 1942 No1 MKIII that may have an early No1 mkIII nose cap screw.
I have read there are two different screws.
Anyway, can anyone suggest which type of screw these rifles will need? This is the screw that goes in from the side.
The 1917 has the big fugly screw. The screw from the 1942 fits both rifles. I have read that the proper screw sits proud, not flush, to enable easier removal in the field.



 
You've shown both examples of the traverse nose piece screws. The "buggered" one should have a large head and is correct for most MKIII's. The countersunk one was a replacement post WWII. Both screws are pricey. Ron
 
rgg_7 said:
You've shown both examples of the traverse nose piece screws. The "buggered" one should have a large head and is correct for most MKIII's. The countersunk one was a replacement post WWII. Both screws are pricey. Ron
Click to expand...

Interesting. Then I guess I need only one screw. I don't want to look at this buggered screw forever.
So this screw is correct for the 1917? It does not fit completely flush with the opposite side.
 
My 1916 BSA MkIII has the Flush screw too. Apparently, the big screw can be undone using the rim of the 303..or myth?
Some SMLE screws are very hard to find and all are pricey. Waiting patiently for some screw orders from the U.K.
 
Myth.

The small screw came first. The larger head screw was adopted in WW1 so that attachments (for example, the barbed wire cutter) could be affixed to the nosecap. After WW2, those attachments were obsolete with the advent of newer squad-based tactics and the smaller screws became more common.
 
The large head screw was to hold a muzzle cover introduced in WWI, see Flanders Mud Flap. Not for disassembly, anything beyond field stripping was actively discouraged for soldiers.
 
I just received a large head screw from England. It was pricey but it looks great now.
I will leave the 1942 as it is. I'm still surprised that the 1917 left the arsenal with a nose cap screw that mangled.
 
green said:
The large head screw was to hold a muzzle cover introduced in WWI, see Flanders Mud Flap. Not for disassembly, anything beyond field stripping was actively discouraged for soldiers.
Click to expand...

I imagine that finding an original example of one of those will be very expensive. Neat piece of history though.
 
ricohman said:
I just received a large head screw from England. It was pricey but it looks great now.
I will leave the 1942 as it is. I'm still surprised that the 1917 left the arsenal with a nose cap screw that mangled.
Click to expand...

Bunch of my screws heads were really mangled: the rear trigger guard, safety spring, cut-off and the bolt retaining spring. The bolt retaining spring screw is the worst, the screwdriver slot is totally rounded out.

Very good informative responses from everyone
 
I doubt that it left the armourer's hands with a screw in that condition.

You will note that the threaded end of the screw has a dimple in it. In 1907, screws were center punched in the dimple end to open them up slightly to prevent them from backing out. You will find similar dimples in the ends of the sling swivel screw too. It works really well, in that one has to really crank on the screw to get the bugger out.

These screws are not drawn or forged as with modern screws made for tensile loads, they are cast. Strong enough for their application, but not very robust.

Probably the screw head gave out when a civilian owner removed the screw first time around.
 
Last edited:
englishman_ca said:
I doubt that it left the armourer's hands with a screw in that condition.

You will note that the threaded end of the screw has a dimple in it. In 1907, screws were center punched in the dimple end to open them up slightly to prevent them from backing out. You will find similar dimples in the ends of the sling swivel screw too. It works really well, in that one has to really crank on the screw to get the bugger out.

These screws are not drawn or forged as with modern screws made for tensile loads, they are cast. Strong enough for their application, but not very robust.

Probably the screw head gave out when a civilian owner removed the screw first time around.
Click to expand...

This rifle was from one of the Corwin lots. Surplus from somewhere. Greece I have heard. Still packed with cosmoline and all Canadian marked.
I believe I am the 1st civilian owner. Same with the later long branch and mk III's I bought with the inspection tags still hanging on them.
 
My rifle with the mangled screws was also from the Corwin batches still in comosline. Perhaps some soldier didn't have a screwdriver in the trenches and used whatever he had. Mine didn't have an inspection tag on it. Also my sear / mag spring was installed backwards making it hard to remove the mag.

I tried different ways to undo one of my swivel screws and thanks Englishman_ca for the tip; the end looks dimpled.
 
IMG_0143.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom