RFI made No. 4 T sniper

[Promo]

Since I anyway had made some pictures of the Indian No. 4 T sniper I had kept, I thought it would be a good chance to also give a picture reference of what is often unknown and even more often unseen.

These rifles were made on scrubbed British receivers (for what I‘ve been told), were newly marked on the right side of the receiver ring. They were produced in an own serial number block with all snipers having an A prefix (probably some also made it into the B block, but I doubt it), and also all having a T suffix to the serial too. Most possibly this T suffix means Telescope.

These rifles made it into Europe through an importer in Belgium, at least this would be suggested by the Belgian firing proof visible on the receiver and the barrel.

My rifle has matching numbers on it, plus the scope mount was serialized to the rifle and the stock was serialized to the scope. I have no clue if this was Indian made or by someone else later to resemble the „British style“, but at least it doesn‘t look to be recently done.

While the stock doesn‘t bear the „S51“ marking on bottom, it is serialized at the very front and bears a small inspector (?) marking in front of the magazine guard.

Looking forward to any comments and would be curious to find out what others have observed with these Indian rifles.

Information

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[Promo]

Attached in a second post the remaining pictures.

[Lee Enfield]

They were not converted to sniper rifles by the Indians, they were existing British No4(t) rifles which were FTR'd by the Indians.

It also appears that the Indians converted them to Mk1/2 status. Interesting that your rifle doesn't seem to actually be a mki/2??, is you stock cut away internally to accommodate the trigger conversion block? My RFI no4T is a true no4mki/2(t)

All that I have seen (including your example) show the D6E (and other) British conversion inspection markings on the rear of the action beside the bolt race.

Attachment 90627
Your illustrated rifle also retains these British (T) conversion markings.

I assume they were difficult to scrub, or the Indians were concerned about removing too much material at the rear of the action.

[Roger Payne]

Charnwood Ordnance also imported a quantity into the UK in the mid 1990's. IIRC it was about 50 rifles & around 1994 (ish).

Yes, as we've said before, it looks as though the Mk1/2 conversion, the linishing of original markings, & the addition of the Indian markings to the RHS of the butt socket all took place at the same time during a fairly major factory refurb in 1962/63.

Rifles left as Mk1 or Mk1* T's also retain their original British or Canadian markings.

[CINDERS]

The bracket has been around a tad with the barred out serials ~ U 92880 and K 75022 on it.

[Giove]

My "Indian" is a Mk I (T) and, as Roger said, itretains all the original markings: T, TR, S, D6E.

The S.N. on the socket is A7157 (no S.N. on the action/receiver); only on the fore-end appears the S.N. A7157T.

[breakeyp]

The only Indian No. 4 Mk1/2 (T)s that I know of in the US came in through Springfield Sporters and did not have mount or telescopic sight. They were expensive for the time ($450 if I remember correctly) and had them awhile before exhausting their supply.

[Surpmil]

My "Indian" is a Mk I (T) and, as Roger said, itretains all the original markings: T, TR, S, D6E.

The S.N. on the socket is A7157 (no S.N. on the action/receiver); only on the fore-end appears the S.N. A7157T.

Does your rifle have the slot for a magazine cutoff? If so, then it is an ex-trials rifle, as you may know of course(?)

But we have a rifle above with a serial number from the trials No.4 range, but a body that is obviously not a trials pattern. What was going on there? Did the Indians somehow get the idea to copy the pattern of the trials rifles when doing these conversions?

I don't believe that rifle is a UK conversion: it has the ♔D6E mark, but not the ♔D7E

(How to type crowns, and other odd things)

[Giove]

Hi Surpmil,

No, the rifle hasm't the slot for the cut-off. My "Indian" is a 1943 BSA (M47C); the date is on the socket.

Yes, it has the D6, while the 7E isn't there, but, maybe, it is covered by other narkings (a 2 ?).

The S.N., I think, was stamped by the Indians after scrubbed the old S.N..

As soon as I can, I insert some pictures.

Giancarlo

[Giove]

These are the pictures of my "Indian" sniper.