RFI No4 Mk1/2 (T) sniper

I recently picked up a No4 sniper that was in Indian service. I've been doing a bunch of reading here (having found nothing in print regarding Indian snipers), and it looks like this is a British rifle that was given to India, used for many years and refurbished there, and then eventually surplussed to the US through Springfield Sporters. I got it without a scope, but a friend had one of the Sarco repro scope and mount sets, which I've put on it for the time being.

Is my assessment of the rifle's history correct, and is there anything else anyone can tell me about it? The original left-side socket markings were scrubbed off, and the right side is marked FR / 1962 / RFI. All the parts are matching (including the mag), with what I assume is a new Indian serial number (A0295T). The bore looks great, but I haven't had a chance to shoot it yet.
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You seem to have it pretty much right. Brit made rifle, probability a BSA, converted to sniper configuration at H&H and ending up in Indian service where it was rebuilt and converted to Mk.1/2 spec.
I have it's older twin, also rebuilt in 62 and imported by Springfield Sporters.

is it a 2 groove?

Hopefully Bearhunter will chime in, I bought one from him and he knows lots about them.

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Originally Posted by Lee Enfield

is it a 2 groove?

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It`s NOT a Savage !..................

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Originally Posted by 303tom

It`s NOT a Savage

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Probably not, but as I understand it India inherited piles of Savage parts and I'd imagine that included the odd barrel or two but I could be wrong. Mine is made up of mostly Savage parts, 75% I'd say. The barrel is a 5 groover with a few remaining Brit markings on the knox, possibly the original but I doubt it though.

It has a 5-groove barrel.

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Originally Posted by 303tom

It`s NOT a Savage !..................

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FYI, Savage, Long Branch, Maltby and Fazakerly all used 2 groove barrels during the war to build No4 rifles.

BSA used 4 groove barrels to build No1MkIII* rifles during the "dispersal" period of the 1940s. Maybe there are some 4 groove No4 BSA barrels out there too??

I have a (sporterized) Savage manufactured No4 barrel which is 4 groove.


The reason I was asking was that my Indian No4MkI/2(T) was (originally in India) fitted with an Indian Ashoka marked 2 groove barrel.

being as it (mine) was rotted, and had been replaced with a Sportco .308 barrel, I rebarreled it with the tightest bore 5gr .303 take off barrel I could locate in my accumulation of "junque".

was the 1/2 done in the UK or India? india I assume?

---------- Post added at 06:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:07 PM ----------

I also have seen quite a few Indian guns with savage bits....

regards

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Originally Posted by ssj

was the 1/2 done in the UK or India? india I assume?

---------- Post added at 06:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:07 PM ----------

I also have seen quite a few Indian guns with savage bits....

regards

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Conversion of British no4mkI(t) to no4mkI/2 (t) was done in India. Original manufacturer markings and serial number were wiped off and rfi markings and new serial number were added to right receiver ring and butt socket