These are first quality reproductions of the 'Flanders Flap' muzzle cover for the SMLE Mk3 & 3*, as issued during the 1st WW to British troops fighting in the trenches of France to keep mud and rain water out of the bore when the rifles were kept in the open and not being fired.

The muzzle covers are made from thin steel sheel and are secured to the left side of the rifle nosecap using the transverse nosecap screw. When in the closed position the front flap is held against the muzzle by the coil spring. The top tab of the cover blocks the view through the foresight to make it obvious that it is closed should you attempt to fire the rifle. To bring the rifle into action the flap is just rotated to the left with a finger and the coil spring then holds the flap out of the way on the left clearing both the muzzle and the foresight.

These reproduction covers follow the original design faithfully, even down to the single 'Broad Arrow' stamp on the tab, as seen on original examples. A single tiny design change has been made to distinguish these from original examples should anyone try to weather these and pass them off as originals.

These were declared obsolete and removed and scrapped soon after the end of the 1st WW, and originals are rare and highly sought after, although they were produced and issued in probably the hundreds of thousands during the conflict.

Unit of sale 1 muzzle cover assembly.

Stock No ENFIELD 3.

PLEASE NOTE;  Although these covers would offer little resistance to a bullet and it is likely that in emergencies many rifles were fired with them in the closed position, they none-the-less pose a very real potential threat to safety should a live or blank round be fired through them in the closed position, in the form of either a deflected shot or the possibility that the cover would fracture and present a hazard from flying debris. It is therefore STRONGLY recommended that these are NOT fitted to live firing rifles. DS Solutions will not accept any liability under any circumstances should you choose to do so and ignore this warning advice..