Enfields_In_Queue:India

Rifle 16
SMLE Rifle No.1, Mk I** IP, Enfield, 1904 Introduced in 1913 and unique to Ishapore, the Mk I** I.P. was initially a conversion of SMLE No. 1 Mk I and No. 1 Mk I* weapons to the Mk III configuration by addition of a charger bridge to the receiver, rebarreling, replacement of the Mk I sight with the Mk III type, addition of Mk III rear sight protectors, and addition of a Mk III nosecap. However, in 1915 the designation "Mk I**IP" was applied to certain “remanufactured” MLE’s, CLLE Mk I I.P.’s, and CLLE Mk II I.P.’s and, in the early 1920’s, it was used on factory rebuilt or “upgraded” Mk III and Mk III* weapons - producing three distinct variants of the Mk I** I.P. This particular weapon was converted from a 1904 BSA manufactured No. 1 Mk I*. The cartouche on the right buttsocket consists of the Royal Cypher and initials ER, BSA, 1904, "SHTL.E.", and "I** I.P." marked in six lines on the right side of the buttsocket. On the left side of the buttsocket are the conversion markings which consist of a "broad arrow" surmounted by a "C" surrounded by the letters "RFI" over the conversion date of 1915. Mk I**IP conversions done after 1918 did not retain the volley sights or the windage adjustable rear sights. This piece is 90%, bore is sharp and bright. Wood is VG with the usual dings and dents associated with service. All matching - bolt, receiver, barrel, rear sight, nosecap, and forestock. No import marks.

Rifle 70
SMLE, No. 1 Mk III*. Ishapore, 1941. Marked on the disk “3/18 RGR” – 3rd Battalion, 18th Royal Garhwal Rifles and dated 1941. The 18th RGR is the post-1922 amalgamation designation of the famous 39th Garhwal Rifles who so distinguished themselves in France in 1914-15. The Garhwalis were always kitted out in the same manner a Gurkhas, as they were Gurkhali speakers from the India-Nepal border area. Overall 90%. Bore sharp and bright. Wood VG.

Rifle 126
SMLE, No. 1 Mk III. Ishapore, 1924. 2/4 G.R. and "2 41". 2nd Battalion, 4th Gurkha Rifles. In February 1941, the 2/4 G.R. was serving in northern Iraq with the 10th Indian Division. It went on to serve in Syria, the Western Desert, and Italy. The 4th GR was allocated to India in 1947 and is still a part of the Brigade of the Gurkhas of the Indian Army. Overall 90%, bore VG (sharp and bright). Wood VG with typical small dings and dents. Matched (bolt, receiver, barrel, sight, nosecap, and forestock. No import marks. Gurkha pieces are always extremely scarce.

Rifle 129
SMLE, No. 1 Mk I**IP. Enfield, 1904 - Modified at Ishapore 1914. With long range auxiliary sights and windage rear sight. Marked on stock disk "9 17" and "2/57 WR" indicating that it was in use by the 2nd Battalion, 57th Wilde's Rifles (Frontier Force) in September of 1917. At that time the battalion was on service with Gen. Allenby as part of the IEF in Palestine. In 1922 the 57th Rifles was amalgamated and became 4th Battalion (Wilde's), 13th Frontier Force Rifles. The 13th FFR won two Victoria Crosses in Burma in 1944/45. Overall 90%, bore VG (sharp and bright). Wood VG with typical small dings and dents. Matched (bolt, receiver, barrel, sight, nosecap, and forestock. No import marks. Distinguished Frontier Force Regiment raised in the 1st Sikh War in 1849.

Rifle 137
SMLE No.1 Mk III*, Enfield 1917. All matching; marked KKD on buttstock. India's Karachi Depot (in present day Pakistan) was a major storage area in WWII for arms coming in from England and the US - particulary Lend-Lease arms.

Rifle 143
SMLE, No. 1 Mk III. Ishapore, 1912. With long range auxiliary sights and windage rear sight. Marked on stock disk "5 19" and "2/91P" indicating that it was in use by the 2nd Battalion of the 91st Punjabis (Light Infantry) in May of 1919. In May of 1919, all battalions of the regiment were on the Northwest Frontier engaged in the 3rd Afghan War. In 1922, the 91st Punjabis was amalgamated and became 2nd Battalion, 8th Punjab Regiment. Overall 90%, bore VG (sharp and bright). Wood VG with typical small dings and dents. Matched (bolt, receiver, barrel, sight, nosecap, and forestock. No import marks. Very rare early Ishapore Mk III with excellent regimental markings.

Rifle 157
SMLE, No. 1 Mk III. Ishapore, 1909. With long range auxiliary sights and windage rear sight. Marking disk is marked " 1 DM" and "1 . 12" - 1st Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, January 1912. These markings a cancelled and replaced by "1 DG" and "3 15" - 1st Dragoon Guards (often called the "Kaisers Own" since Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary was the Colonel-in-Chief in 1914) and March 1915. Both the 1 DG and the 1 DM were garrisoned in India in August 1914. Upon the outbreak of war, the 1 DG was designated as a part of the IEF, arriving in the lines in Flanders on 5th November 1914. The 1 DM spent the entire war in India while its other battalions served in France and later in Russia. I believe that it is reasonable to surmise that this rifle was removed from the 1 DM at the time of the 1 DG's departure in order to augment stores for the expeditionary regiments. I suspect that the 1 DM was then equipped with Mk I's or even MLE's. In March of 1915, the 1 DG was in France. Condition is 90%+ finish. Wood is VG- with the usual dings and a couple of small slivers out around the dial sight plate. Bore is sharp and bright. All matching (receiver, barrel, bolt, sight, nosecap, and forestock). No import marks.

Rifle 159
SMLE, No. 1 Mk III*. Standard Small Arms Co., 1918. Marked on disk “EIRR” – East India Railway Regiment and is dated 1921. The EIRR was a “Railway Volunteer” regiment formed in 1869 as the East Indian Railway Volunteer Rifle Corps. Re-designated EIRR in 1920. Overall 90% finish. Bore sharp and clean. Wood VG. Matched. No import marks.

Rifle 205
Savage No.4 Mk.1* 1943. Two groove bore. Not import marked. Original finish Birch furniture, all matching, overall average wood with some dings and gouges, above average metal. 300/600 rear sight. Buttstock marked K K D over 9-43 - Karachi Depot Receiver Stamped U.S. Property; S 1943 Web Sling, Blued Steel End Fittings (slight corrosion on end fittings); Oiler, Black Plastic, Unmarked; Pull Through; Bayonet with correct Victory Plastics scabbard and web frog. India's Karachi Depot (in present day Pakistan) was a major storage area in WWII for arms coming in from England and the US - particulary Lend-Lease arms.

Rifle 233
SMLE, No. 1 Mk III. Ishapore, 1931. Marked on the disk “3/18 RGR” – 3rd Battalion, 18th Royal Garhwal Rifles and dated 1941. The 18th RGR is the post-1922 amalgamation designation of the famous 39th Garhwal Rifles who so distinguished themselves in France in 1914-15. The Garhwalis were always kitted out in the same manner a Gurkhas, as they were Gurkhali speakers from the India-Nepal border area. Overall 90%. Bore sharp and bright. Wood VG.

Rifle 235
SMLE No. 1 Mk III*. Ishapore 1927.
Another conundrum. I can't decide if this one goes with the Indians or the Canadians. In all respects it is a straight vanilla 1927 Ishapore although it does have a "C" broad arrow property mark in the right side of the buttstock. Marked on both receiver and knox form with the "C" and broad arrow. Stock disk is a standard "AA" (Allahabad Arsenal)with a 1939 date. Go figure. I am really baffled by this one, as the only two place that the Canadian and Indian armies ever were in immediate proximity were in Hong Kong in 1941 (unlikely) and Italy from 1943-1945. Finish is 90%. Bore is rather indifferent being sharp but dark. Wood is VG is Ishapore cartouches. Matched bolt, barrel, receiver, barrel, sight, nosecap, and forestock. No import marks.

Rifle 236
SMLE No. 1 Mk III. BSA 1913. FTR Ishapore 1935
I know a lot of collectors that will turn up their noses at any rifle marked "EY" - Emergency Use Only. Fine with me - I pick up some interesting rifles this way. Stock is stamped 3 GI - 3rd Gwalior States Infantry and is dated 1938. The Princely State of Gwalior had five understrength battalions (more like companies) of infantry which - in 1940 - were combined into the 5th Gwalior Infantry. The 4th Infantry also served in Egypt and Palestine during the Great War. Overall 90% finish. Bore is very sharp and bright. Buttstock is VG - with chip out of buttstock at marking disk recess, rest of wood is VG. Matched. Not an import.

Rifle 238
.22 Short Rifle No.2 Mk IV*
Ishapore, 1954 .22 caliber trainer. One of the approximately 35,000 or so purpose-built Ishapore trainers produced between 1953 and 1976 and still in use by the Indian Armed Forces. This one is stamped "CALCUTTA" on the left side of the buttstock indicating Senior Division NCC at Calcutta University. Overall 95% finish. Bore looks unfired - very sharp and bright. Wood is VG+ with all appropriate Ishapore cartouches. Less than 50 of these in the country. Matched. No import marks.

Rifle 241
Royal Ordnance Factory - Fazakerley 3/43. A wartime Fazakerley Rifle No.4 Mk I under a formidable amount of cosmolene. There may be some additional service marks waiting to be discovered under all of that preservative. In the meantime, it carries a waxed Indian Navy hangtag marked Bombay Naval Stores.