New here and in need of wisdom ;-) / No.1 Mk.III* Identification

[Frederick303]

Herr,

Willkommen Sie im Enfleld Forum, ein Kerl Enfield-Fan, dessen Familie aus Ostpreussen stammt (Warmia).

As to your Enfield, it is a nice example of a late war time rebuilt example of the No 1 MK III* type. The FR 45 indicates a Factory Repair, 45 indicating the year of the repair (1945). The FR marking is generally associated with Rifle factory Isaphore, though it is seen on some arms of WWI vintage with no association with the India. The marking on the left side of the socket indicates it went through Ishapore rebuild in 1945. The original markings on the right side are generally ground off on such a rebuild, which makes identifying the original manufacture date of the action body difficult.

The green paint was a 1944 or 1945 REME instruction for tropical use that is entirely correct for an Indian rifle. The green paint was to prevent rust on the metal surfaces that would be set against wood, which would retain moisture in a tropical environment.

The British proof markings on the action body and barrel are post 1954 commercial proofs, required when the rifle was sold off into the trade. The proofs are for the London proof house, which generally indicates that the rifle was sold out of Woolrich arsenal. There were large sales of surplus British arms between 1956 and 1968, why which time most of the No1 MKIII rifles had been sold off. These proof marks would tend to indicate that the rifle ended its career in the UK. There were numbers of Indian arms that were used by the British army during WWII and many did end up in the UK after WWII. Generally these rifles are action dated prior to 1940 though.

Unfortunately the London proof house marks are not dated until around 1980 or after, so the exact date it was proofed is not possible to determine. At the very least this indicates that the rifle went through the London proof house for commercial proof between 1954 and 1979 I note the raised arm and sword on the nitro proof mark do seem to be a late marking, later then the ones seen in the US of A that were applied before the year 1968. That would make me suspect it was commercially proofed after 1968 and before 1979.

As it was rebuilt in 1945, and the British army left India in 1947, it is possible that this rifle was sold into the trade later. The SIA stamp on the stock indicates that it was in India post 1947, that it was in the Indian Army post 1947. Large scale surplus sales of Indian army rifles did not occur until post 1973~74, according to what I have read about the surplus trade. That makes the combination of the British commercial proofs and the SIA property mark hard to figure out, though it would match the rifle being sold into trade between 1973 and 1979.

The cut off bayonet lug and the welded sight was a modification of military arms intended for sale into Germany. These sales rules required military arms to have the sight modified to limit the range to 300 meters and any bayonet mounting to be removed. I am not sure how late these regulations existed, but I am pretty sure they were in force from around 1954 to at least 1980. I believe these rules are now relaxed for collector arms In Germany post 1994.

Perhaps some others with more knowledge can make a more detailed analysis of your rifle, but I think that is a good first brief introduction to the markings.

Perhaps when you have your answers in full you can answer some questions for me pertaining to post war Kar98K rifles in Germany.

Regards and welcome once again.

Frederick303