Ishapore Mk.III?

[Singer B]

Since lefties are usually slower on the bolt, we just have to be better shots and hit the target the first time!! Since the groups I shoot with do so just for fun, we never really notice the difference!

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[Bob Womack]

Well, this situation has developed a bit. I visited the '67 rifle at the nearby store that I spoke of above before, several times, and discovered that is was a mix-master with at least three different serial numbers on the parts. The front hand guard is missing its fingers, it was finsheded with the black paint and there was a lot of missing finish, the front sight ears were bent as were the sling swivels, and the the front sight was way over to one side, the right side. It might need that to zero up, but it makes getting lined up kind of hard for a lefty like me. The price was right for today's era ($500) but it had those demerits.

Then yesterday I happened to remember that there is local dealer that specializes in milsurps. On a lark, I gave him a call. He said he did have an Ishy 2A1 and quoted a price that was a little higher. So, before I plunked down my money I decided to go visit. This morning my wife and I drove out there. The rifle was hanging at the bottom of their wall of Brit rifles. It is a 1965 B range with the visible serial numbers on the bolt, receiver, rear sight, and front sight guard matching. The metal is totally Parkerized, not painted, with the original park being in good condition. Of course, the rear hand guard screw had to be goobered. The safety was super stiff. The stock is complete, the color is uniform. There are arsenal repairs at top and bottom of the buttstock by the butt cap and on the rear handguard. The magazine catch works well and the magazine fits well. I had them cycle a round to make sure it feeds properly. My wife was tremendously impressed with the condition of this one and the fact that it appears all-original.

We went back to look at the first one and frankly, it paled by comparison. Lots of bangs and bruises and work to be done. So, we grabbed coffee and went out to think, sitting in my wife's car with the rain drumming down. It is good to have a wife that wants the best for you. Vince Gill has said of his wife that he is "just grateful to be married to a kind woman." Mine really urged me that if I was going to buy one, that I go for a good one.

So, we made the half-hour drive back out to the milsurp dealer. Their gunsmith and I looked over the rear hand guard screw and the safety. He took the rifle to his shop and peened the rear trigger guard screw, smoothed it with a jeweler's file, and touched it up with Cool Blue. He also used some light penetrating gun oil on the safety and it began to lighten up. So, I bought it. I also picked up a period sling for it as well.

And here is a fun closing of a circle: back when I was a kid, the family was shopping for antiques and my brother and I came across a pair of bayonets. I ended up with one in extremely good condition marked "Australia." I hadn't really paid much attention to it but in my research over the last couple of weeks I noticed a bayonet that looked like mine. I pulled mine out and used a loupe to read the markings and, sure enough, it is an M1907, the original bayonet for Mk.IIIs and 2A1s. So, not only do I have an M1907, now I have a correct rifle to stick it on!

Bob