Ishapore Screw

[TerryChambers]

Maybe you fellows can answer a question. Is the so-called dreaded Ishapore screw that big ugly slotted screw in ther lower forend stock just a few inches forward of the action body? Does it mean that the rifle (NO.4 MK 1/2) saw service in India? or did other countries similarly abuse their weapons? Any help would be appreciated,
Terry

Information

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[Amatikulu]

Peter Laidler indicated at one time that the British also did this as an approved repair for a split forestock.

My experience of what I've seen here in the USA is that the transverse wood screw you describe is almost always associated with service in India or Pakistan. My suspicion is that in British service, rifles with the screw would have had new fore stocks fitted as and when they went back to base workshops - but that's just a guess.

[Thunderbox]

I've never seen a British rifle with one fitted - apart from No1 target rifles, which sometimes had a bolt fitted in the same location.

[gunner]

Here is a pic of my LE No.4 MK I * Savage made with this screw but i couldnt see any trace that the stock was splittet.

Regards

Gunner

[TerryChambers]

Mine's a BSA Shirley and also shows no signs of a split stock. I think I will disassemble it tonight and see if there are any Indian ownership markings.

[gunner]

I didnt find any indian markings on it only canadian. But it has a rust preventcoulor on the barrel wich means that it has seen service in the south pacific. So eventualy it had a field repair at there?

Regards,

Gunner

[Peter Laidler]

About a year or so ago, I culled 27 or so No4 rifles from Cadet Forces in the SW of the Country and two had the screw. I have to admit that we did it a lot neater than the dreaded Ishapore screw though. Those I saw didn't protrude through the other side either!

[TerryChambers]

Well, I didn't find any Indian ownership marks but I did find an interesting record of the weapon's history. The English proof mark is there and just as clear and distinct as you could wish. There is also a W in a five-pointed star, which from one of the L/E websites could be Weedon Supply Depot. (Thoughts on that?) BSA's M47C is also there and the year 1954. I suppose that means it was re-barrelled then, since it is a 1943 production, or perhaps the barrel was manufactured in 1954 since the reciever is marked P 55 FTR ( which is when it was converted to a Mk2). Were the conversions exclusively performed at Fazakerly? Someone once posted that if the English had spent less time putting these myriad of marks on their rifles they could have made more guns. For me, 65 years later, they provide a rich history that is half the enjoyment of owning them.

[Enfieldlock]

The dreaded Ishy Screw was fitted to fore-ends as part of the production process. We had a some new No4 fore-ends with them fitted. We have had them removed and repaired, but the scar is very difficult to hide.

I presume some No4 woodwork was made in India.

[John Sukey (Deceased)]

I believe the original intention was to reinforce the forend for grenade firing.
Note that india did it to EVERYTHING