Deactivated “Drill Purpose” Ishapore Enfield #1 MKIII SMLE

[Peter Laidler]

Great part of the Enfield family. A true authorised conversion and KNOWN to have been used as such. Unlike other spurious versions - like the tunnel rifles!!!!!!!

[browningautorifle]

Then again these girls can be finicky when it comes to mags.

Yes, they were fitted to the rifle and then left there. You were supposed to remove for cleaning and the load with clips from the top. Yes, we too used loading parties on the range and had boxes full of collected mags from the troops...then distributed them back after.

A question for the smiths among us, would it be possible to repair the action body and reuse it?

Yes, it could be done...even the pin can be removed and the holes filled, taken down to smooth and it would pass the eyeball test. As Peter and several others have noted clearly though, we have NO IDEA why this was rated "DP" and shouldn't even consider that route.

I think he's found and excellent example of DP for collection and all parts, even small ones marked... Nice. Oil and fine steel wool and she'll look about perfect.

[usabaker]

Interesting rifle, I feel for your conundrum, it does seem a shame to break her for parts.

Talking to the folks at J&G they seem to have a lot of these and "can get more" so I'm tempted to just get another that is not as nice. BUT! then I might not want to take that one apart too! The one oddity I did notice on the rifle is there are no other marking except 1959 on the back end of the receiver where the buttstock connects.

[englishman_ca]

I had a buddy swing by the store yesterday for me (21st, thanks Goosic) and check the DP rifles out.

Only three left in stock, 1950s dated with the red and white paint. The woodwork on these last three is very poor, gouged, and not really usable on a restoration, unless you were restoring a beat up DP..

I agree with Capt Laidler, these are a legit example of a rifle service used in service and are a collectable as is.
Cost and paperwork has put me off from buying one and shipping it up to Canada.

I would be hesitant pulling that one apart too.

[usabaker]

Only three left in stock, 1950s dated with the red and white paint. The woodwork on these last three is very poor, gouged, and not really usable on a restoration unless you were restoring a beat up DP..

The folk's at J&G told me that they can get some more. My guess is that they will be ordering a bunch more.

[Daan Kemp]

LE magazines often have to be adjusted to work. Lots of handling and firing distorts the lips, body, etc. Judicious and careful bending, etc makes a huge difference.

I use mine for IPSC and some work made four magazines work flawlessly, including a shortened one.

[usabaker]

had a buddy swing by the store yesterday for me (21st, thanks Goosic) and check the DP rifles out.

Only three left in stock, 1950s dated with the red and white paint. The woodwork on these last three is very poor, gouged, and not really usable on a restoration

I just talked with the folks at J&G and they still have over 200 of these DP rifles in stock, most in the same condition as the one I purchased.

[englishman_ca]

Cool!

No doubt that they will sell a bunch of them.

One would think that they would have the good ones out on display.

[AFJon]

Wonder if these came out of the sale of Springfield Sporters inventory to Century Arms?

[usabaker]

Wonder if these came out of the sale of Springfield Sporters inventory to Century Arms?

The one I have has no importer marks of any kind, don't know if that means anything other then they are not recent imports.