A nice example of an WW2 period Indian rifle
There is no unit disk and no evidence of a repair.
Unit discs were discontinued during WW11 to avoid the enemy capturing prisoners and rifles and finding out who was opposing them. They were re-introduced later on an ad-hoc basis but their use does not seem to have been mandatory
The stock (right side) has a broad arrow with an S on the left, an I below and an A on the right.
Indian ownership / inspection mark
Where I would think the unit disk would be there is also a small and partially worn off similar cartouche consisting of the numbers 506 over a broad arrow and the numbers 1570? (difficult to read) underneath it.
The metal band on the reciever has the year, crown, GRI and No 1. MkIII as I would expect but no mention of a manufacturer.
GRI - George Rex Imperator would indicate it is an Indian manufactured rifle. manufactured in the Ishapore factory
The left side of the grenadier cross-bolt has a triangle with a lightning bolt on it.
This is an Indian method of strengthening the forend
on the top of the barrel shoulder (at the breach) there are the letters GF, and another GF mark just in front of that. I assume this doesn't mean gluten free (grenade firing?). I would expect the "emergency use only" cartouche for a grenadier here if anything, I haven't found any other examples of this my searches.
GF = Grenade Firing
On the right side of the stock opposite where I'd expect a unit disk is the numbers "34" in white paint.
Probably just a stores 'rack number'
Right behind the trigger on the bottom of the stock is the letter "S" and one other symbol which looks like either an "8" or another "S"
I think from the black arsenal paint she definitely ended up in India at some point but was she made there? did she serve in WW2?
Yes she was made in India, painted by the Indians and probably served with them.