Lithgow FTR Ishapore SMLE

[Mit]

Gday,

I came across a 1940 GRI (Ishapore) today that had gone through FTR at Lithgow in 1952 (MA52). I thought that this would be uncommon as I have never come across an Indian rifle with Australian markings but was wondering if it would be considered rare?

Cheers,

Mitch

Information

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[mrclark303]

Interesting, seen a few the other way round, but never an RFI made example FTR'd at Lithgow... Any chance of pictures?

[Homer]

Yeah never seen one.

[Mit]

The rifle was in very poor condition. It was sporterised and cutdown at the barrel band but it had a red band painted on the butt, other than that it looked like any other Lithgow FTR with the Lithgow markings on the left wrist and a MA52 barrel. The only thing that indicated that it was Indian was the GRI markings on the wrist. I apologise but I don't have photos, If this is the only known example then I will have to devote the rest of my life to find another.

[Homer]

It's the only one I know of but that doesn't mean much.

[mrclark303]

I guess as its a 1940 date, it could have come into the Australian system via pooled Ordnance when fighting alongside the Indians in the Western desert of the Far East...