Ishapore Screw - Peter Laidler

[louthepou]

I agree with the concept of "nothing wrong with a visible repair" - I believe it is respectful of the work that went into making the part - repairing it keeps it alive instead of throwing it out. Thank my dad for this.

Each time I see a nice repair on parts I get I'm all happy. I learn a lot from these. Recently I repaired a Mosin Nagant stock I have, mimicking what I saw on other repaired parts. (next time I promise to dovetail)

[Capt Quahog]

"F I R" 1931 India Rebuild - 1913 Enfield "Sht L E" III rifle

Picked up this rifle at a yard sale in New England back in the 1990s. There are no import or exports mark to be found.

The left side of the receiver is marked " F I R " with the letter " I " lower with an upward facing broad arrow. Upon the right side of the butt stock is a round one-inch cartouche with the letters " I A S " having the " A " lowered and broad arrow facing upward. Appears that the rifle was re-blued at some time in a pleasing deep "fire blue" tone like that seen on vintage American military guns.

Stock wood looks to be walnut. Rear sight is from a later era. Then there is the "Ishapore Screw", which is plain to see. A casual observation would say that this pre-WWI veteran Lee Enfield Rifle saw more than one factory overhaul during it's 96-year life time. The bore on this rifle is dazzling with deep grooves!

Anybody know if " F I R " stands for " Factory Ishapore Rebuild " ? Then too . . . does " I A R " signify " Ishaphore Arsenal Rebuild " ? Would suppose that being a true ENFIELD factory, England built rifle, that it was probably a British Army arm that did service in India with repair and overhaul work logically done there.

Like most of these, this rifle must have stories tell. We can only guess at where this Lee Enfield has been and the history it has witnessed.

[englishman_ca]

Here is an observation.


British rebuilds are marked FTR which is short for Factory Thorough Rebuild.

Indian rebuilds are marked FR which is short for Factory Rebuild.

The India Govt acceptance stamp was variation on that of the British, a broad arrow over a capital I


My point is that I don't read it as a three letter sequence, it might not be read as FIR. I can see the Arrow over I acceptance mark with F and R either side of it.

So F R either side of an Indian acceptance mark.

Indian FR had the tendancey to sand off most of the original markings on the rifle and restamp with their own info. My money would be on that this is an ex British rifle supplied to India where it was rebuilt and made like new. It was duly inspected and received govt acceptance stamp in 1931. It was marked FR to show it was a refurb.

The mark on the buttstock is the stamp of the 'Inspectorate of Small Arms' another Indian inspection stamp.

[tbonesmith]

Here's my go at it on an unused No 4 Mk2 Indian forend. There was a bit of damage and I thought it worthwhile to repair it. It came up well, you can't even feel it. I oiled it and it looks good and should darken with a few decades.
An I'll put in my Ishapore screw repair too.

[Claven2]

If you want to see some modern patching check the black powder forum for my Brunswick restoration. Or here are some other examples of work I've been doing on commonwealth stocks:

[tbonesmith]

Alright, you win...

[Badger]

Alright, you win...

Regards,
Doug

ps: considering this thread's original post start date is almost a year old, for those that may have missed it, here's a later associated MKL article by Peter Laidler.

GETTING RID OF YOUR ‘Ishy’ Screw (by Peter Laidler)