Non DP 1944 Ishapore with DP Bolt

[jakebevt48]

Hey Everyone,

I recently traded for a .303 1944 Ishapore No1 Mk3*. I have disassembled it. The rifle itself is not DP marked. However, the bolt, bolt head and rear top handguard (the tiny one behind the rear sight) have DP stamped on them.

Also, there is no hole drilled in the chamber or anything of that nature. And the firing pin has not been cut off. There is no paint on the stock except for a rack number.

So, if this was your rifle, how would you feel about shooting it? The previous owner says he fired it a few years ago. I really like the rifle!

Thoughts on this?

Thanks
Jake

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Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[browningautorifle]

So, the bolt is mismatched?

[jakebevt48]

Yes, the bolt is mismatched. As a matter of fact, now that I look at it the bolt's serial appears to have been scrubbed. If it is normally on the rear of the bolt handle (as in you could've read the serial number on the bolt with the rifle shouldered) then there are some file marks there to have removed it.

[Alan de Enfield]

So, if this was your rifle, how would you feel about shooting it?

Personally (since you asked) I would not shoot it - in fact I would not have bought it (traded for it) in the 1st place (unless I wanted a wallhanger)

The problem is "you just don't know"

You assume that the rifle is 'fine' and that it lost its bolt sometime and someone just put a 'new' bolt in. Was the bolt correctly fitted ? (fitted as in adjusted to fit properly, not just shoved in the bolt-raceway) - you just don't know.

[mrclark303]

I wouldn't shoot it until I was happy the rifle was head spacing correctly and the bolt was correctly fitted and adjusted to the action.

[jakebevt48]

So guys, what would be your advice on inspecting the rifle/restoring it to being a shooter? Check headspace with gauges? Order a new bolt assembly (and recheck headspace)? The only issue i've seen is that most bolts you can order online from Liberty Tree or Sarco are DP marked anyway.

Again, if you take out the bolt and remove that top handguard there are no other DP marked parts anywhere--which from what I have read would mean the rifle itself is not a DP gun. Anyone know how to solve this problem?

[mrclark303]

My advice Jake would be to get the rifle inspected by a gunsmith who understands Enfields, we always recommend Brian Dick of this Parish as a starting point.

It's very important to ensure the bolt is gauging correctly and bedded correctly with the action.

[pisco]

hi do the other numbers match get some marking blue or a permanent marker and ink the locking lugs if it doesn’t show contact on both sides get someone to look at it for you,there are a number of reasons the bolt was replaced

[jakebevt48]

The other numbers on the rifle are matching, including the rear sight, magazine, and nose cap. It really is a nice rifle! But I will check the lug contact.

[Buccaneer]

You are asking "is safe to shoot" so obviously you are unsure so take the very sage advise that has been given above and get it properly looked at and fully checked before you shove anything into the chamber. The DP marks could have been applied for a number of reasons and not necessarily because the parts were unsafe but as the bolt and other pressure bearing parts do not appear to come from this rifle then the only sensible thing to do is have it checked.