Gurkha Made SMLE ?

Unmarked except serial number and wrist writing. Stock was replaced at some point.https://attachment.outlook.office.ne...live.com&isc=1
Sign in to your Microsoft account

---------- Post added at 10:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:35 PM ----------

https://attachment.outlook.office.ne...live.com&isc=1

---------- Post added at 10:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:35 PM ----------

https://attachment.outlook.office.ne...live.com&isc=1

---------- Post added at 10:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:36 PM ----------

https://attachment.outlook.office.ne...live.com&isc=1

---------- Post added at 10:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:37 PM ----------

https://attachment.outlook.office.ne...live.com&isc=1

---------- Post added at 10:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:38 PM ----------

https://attachment.outlook.office.ne...live.com&isc=1

---------- Post added at 10:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:39 PM ----------

https://attachment.outlook.office.ne...live.com&isc=1

No pics bloke see threads on how to post them top Rt home screen use the search function box.

Gurkhas didn't make rifles though...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by browningautorifle

Gurkhas didn't make rifles though...

---

It has been suggested that Nepal actually manufactured some Lee Enfields. IMA had some for sale at one time.

Watching this thread with interest.

I will attempt to post pictures again tonight. I believe this gun came from the IMA buy from 2003.

---------- Post added at 03:21 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:19 PM ----------

http://https://attachment.outlook.of...live.com&isc=1

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by englishman_ca

Nepal actually manufactured some Lee Enfields

---

As in Khyber pass guns?

Nepal did make/reverse engineer Sniders, (also Martini's I think). I have heard people talk about Nepalese reverse engineered Enfield's, but have never seen an example.

Assuming they exist, if they are as good as the locally made Sniders, they are probably pretty good.

I would guess early Lee designs though, as the events of the early 20th Century would have meant a glut of British and Indian SMLE'S heading to Nepal, with no subsequent need to build their own.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mrclark303

early Lee designs

---

Pretty sure we had one here for a thread.

I will have a look tomorrow Jim, on my phone at the moment with an iffy G4 signal. Sounds fascinating.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by browningautorifle

As in Khyber pass guns?

---

Yes, as in locally made in Nepal. Memory is fuzzy, but the story was that these were made for the king's personal guard and they had to have the latest, greatest up to date weaponry to showcase.
The rifle in the pictures that I saw looked to be a regular pattern long Lee Enfield and appeared to be of high quality. It could have been a trade pattern rifle, but story definately said Nepal made.

[IMG][IMG]https://s15.postimg.org/khdvb5ftz/IMG_1645.jpg[/IMG][/IMG][IMG]https://s21.postimg.org/echwilkf7/IMG_1641.jpg[/IMG][IMG]https://s11.postimg.org/leq1ggu1b/IMG_1650.jpg[/IMG]

Aren't those Thai markings?

@browningautorifle post #12 I do not think so as I have a RAMA VI rifle and the markings are completely different and the marks shown do not look like Thai script

Just looked it up, yes it's Nepali...

I was wondering what do you think a value for it would be. I was thinking of selling. There aren't any other examples to compare it to.

There is a section on these in Ian Skennertons TLE starting at the bottom of page 371 with photos on pages 372,373 & 374

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by tdarmo

I was wondering what do you think a value for it would be. I was thinking of selling. There aren't any other examples to compare it to.

---

They are quite rare & certainly no "Khyber pass" value will be whatever a collector is willing to pay, i for one would pay more than twice the price of a normal SMLE for one & still think i did well if not think i stole it!

I see they used the RFI SMLE type forend tie plate, similar to the No4.

So I guess they copied an RFD example.

I don't think the rifles were "copied"; they were actual licensed production (or assembly).

IIRC the Nepalese were given drawings, tools, gauges and expert help (from Enfield and /or Ishapore) by the British so that they could attempt a short manufacturing run. It could be that the action bodies themselves were donated - it would be interesting to make a detail comparison with contemporary Ishapore or Enfield.

Edit: the version in the OP post has been restocked (badly) with Ishapore wood. The originals have standard 1930s forends without the tie plate.

Fascinating, thanks for sharing the information, great idea for a side by side comparison that would be very interesting exercise