[Osage]

Saw an enfield in a local pawn labeled Ishapore, $200.

Cosmetically, nice shape. Had a new looking butt stock. Bolt head looked new and case hardened.
however, wrist was stamped no 1 mk III and was dated 1949. Would this have been a transfer to india? Sorry, still learning. This didn't jive with what I knew about ishapores.

 

[FIVESHOT]

Maybe an RFI refurb ?

Need pics of both sides

of the stock connector

under the bolt . I had a

1948 FR once .



FIVESHOT

 

[NavyGunner]

I have an Ishapore marked R.F.I. / 1951 / No.1 Mk3*. R.F.I stands for Rifle Factory Ishapore which continued to make .303 caliber SMLE rifles for the Indian Army after India became an independent nation on August 15, 1947.

 

[FIVESHOT]

I've seen some RFI SMLE's with dates in the '80's .



FIVESHOT

 

[Melanie_Daniels]

I have one dated 2007.

 

[bones92]

Yes, Ishapore made No1 MkIII*'s until about 1950...

 

[Osage]

Thanks bones. That would be it. I probably will pass on it and wait for something with a little more battle history.

 

[bones92]

Osage, if the bolt and nosecap are matching, and it's in overall good shape with a good bore, $200 probably is not a bad price.

And some of these late Ishapore rifles probably do have some battle history. India and Pakistan have had a few bouts over the years.

 

[Osage]

Wood and metal were in really good shape. New, I guess armory replacement, butt stock. Hard to gauge the bore since it really needed cleaning but the lands looked strong. Just couldn't tell how sharp they were. Is a replacement bold head an indicator of throat wear?
Stopped by a pawn yesterday and found an ishapore jungle carbine that looked show-room fresh. 1964, 7.62 cal. $429. Wasn't interested.

 

[4thGordons]

Yes, Ishapore made No1 MkIII*'s until about 1950...

View attachment 522899 View attachment 522898

Also made them in the '70s and again in the '80s

[

 

[krinko]

4th,
Are your '70s Ishapore rifles new production, or FR types?
-----krinko

 

[4thGordons]

They appear to be new production/assembly in so far as I can tell. The markings are on the wrist with ashoka/date and no FR marks visible on the other side or anywhere else that I recall. I can pull them out and have look.

One is a DP rifle with a big hole in the chamber - the other is in great shape.

 

[krinko]

Thanks for that----I'll have to keep my eyes open for one of those. My only '70 is one of the FR types, marked on the right side of the buttsocket.
-----krinko

 

[4thGordons]

Apologies, It appears I misremembered on one I need to check the 1972. The 1970DP rifle has No1 Mk3* on the right of the reciever (no visible ashoka) and RFI 1970 below the safety. No FR mark but not what I said and marking formatted like an FR
That has made me doubt my memory of the other so I will dig it out and check. Sorry for that....

Edit:
Dug all the way to the back of the safe (always the way isn't it)
1972 is as I described - Ashoka No1 Mk3* 1972 no FR marks

 

[Osage]

Thanks for all the good info. Took another look today and brought my reading glasses. Gun is a mk III *. Nose cap, receiver and magazine are matching. Bore looks sharp. I'm taking it home tomorrow. Now I need some dies and brass. Any recs on a bullet?
I have a 312 bullet mold and plan to cast for it also.

 

[muffett.2008]

It's good to see that Murphy is active at your place also. It's like garden sheds, they should have a door at the back to, that way we can get to what's invariably not where we want it to be.