[John Sukey In Memoriam]

I have one of those and on the second shot it did launch the nosecap and part of the forend down range.
I dug a channel in both pieces, and after fitting them together, filled the channel with epoxy

 

[John Sukey In Memoriam]

The really funny bit is can you imagine anyone climbing out the hatch on a tank with a rifle, even a shortened one?

Similar to the "tanker" .38 revolvers. The hammers without a thumb piece for single action cocking were simply a production shortcut.