1939 Ishapore

[Ridolpho]

Attachment 36513Attachment 36510Attachment 36511Attachment 36512Attachment 36515Attachment 36514Attachment 36516Attached are a few photos of my 1939 Ishapore #1 Mk III. All numbers match including the forend which doesn't have the cutaway for the magazine cutoff. The forend also appears to be an "8th variation" (as per Stratton) with no "keeper plate" and a steel strap across the rear face ala #4. There are no "FTR" markings (absolutely clean left cheek) and I'm wondering if this could possibly have been the original forend? I'm also curious about the "HS8" mark on the barrel reinforce and can find no references concerning the butt markings (ESA?). A nice rifle with excellent bore. Appears to me to have been blued on nicely finished action body.

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[jmoore]

Haven't seen those ESA markings before. Odd to find tham on the butt in two locations as well.

[jrhead75]

The backstrap means it not the (factory) original forestock. The strap was a late/post WWII feature. We have had two very nice original and complete '39 Ishapores show up at a local gunshop and a local pawnshop over that last 5 years or so. I handled them both and can attest that I might have gotten a bit of drool on the one. Both had the original style pinned forestock.

[Ridolpho]

jrhd75: Thanks, I suspected as much although I found it strange there were no Factory Repair markings put on it.

[jrhead75]

jrhd75: Thanks, I suspected as much although I found it strange there were no Factory Repair markings put on it.

I don't know that wood repair/replacement would necessarily have merited an "FR". Keeping in mind that the FR stamped on the buttsocket is the Indian version of the full FTR in the British/Commonwealth systems, and the meaning of the FR stamp on a butt hasn't been conclusively deciphered yet.

[tlvaughn]

and can find no references concerning the butt markings (ESA?).

If you look closely, I think you will find that the stamped letters are or should be ESA over A. I have this on three of my POF Mk2 rifles and asked the same question a year or so ago with no response.

I have tried to research it, but the only thing I was able to find is an Indian exporter - ESAA Exports. I was not able to connect them to the rifles, so I still do not have an answer.