The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - question about older military rifle stocks

btmj · October 31, 2013, 10:15 PM

Looking at early 20th century military rifles with wood stocks, such as the 1903 Springfield, the 1917 Enfield, the Mosin Nagant, K98 Mauser, the M1 Garand... One thing I notice about all these rifles is that the forestock covers the barrel on the top and the bottom.

No modern bolt action rifle covers the top of the barrel. Why did the designers of these weapons choose to cover the top of the barrel? It must have been a good idea at the time, since the above listed weapons were some of the finest of there era, and it seems ALL of them had this feature.

Jim

October 31, 2013, 10:15 PM	#1
btmj Senior Member Join Date: November 1, 2011 Location: Near St. Louis, Missouri Posts: 864	question about older military rifle stocks Looking at early 20th century military rifles with wood stocks, such as the 1903 Springfield, the 1917 Enfield, the Mosin Nagant, K98 Mauser, the M1 Garand... One thing I notice about all these rifles is that the forestock covers the barrel on the top and the bottom. No modern bolt action rifle covers the top of the barrel. Why did the designers of these weapons choose to cover the top of the barrel? It must have been a good idea at the time, since the above listed weapons were some of the finest of there era, and it seems ALL of them had this feature. Jim