1980s Ishapore SMLEs

[556A2]

Does anyone happen to have more information about the Ishapores made in the 1980s? Mostly the availability in the United States, quality, and year ranges?

My new quest is to hopefully find a 1984 Ishapore No1 MkIII*.

Information

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[bradtx]

556A2, The Ishapore '80s production is/was fairly available in the US.
Quality, or rather quality control isn't quite the same as on the earlier SMLEs. The worst I've seen were on '87 (maybe '88) production.

Brad

PS Good luck on your quest.

[Steve H. in N.Y.]

"...quality control isn't quite the same as on the earlier SMLEs."

You can say that again. The barrel on this '87 isn't indexed properly to the receiver. The front and rear sights align with each other but not with anything else. I wonder exactly whose quality control department blessed it.

[Peter Laidler]

This isn't only an Indian problem Steve and others although on that example, the examiner seems to have ignored the bleedin' obvious! This was a regular problem with No4's (and 5's) and even today, with the SA80. On the No1 and 4, the breeching up gauge indexed the flat of the knox form with a parallel gauge that went into the body and.......... and whatever it did, it didn't! Because if the flat of the knox form was just a gnats knacker (remember that word, it's a particularly British Army technical phrase, indicating 'a little bit less than a little bit.....') out, then the foresight would lean over. Not a lot (but a LOT in some cases.....) and zeroing would be a nightmare. As a result of that, while the EMER quoted the official method, everyone the whole world over used a sheet of glass and vee blocks.

[Edward Horton]

U.S. Military repair and overhaul depots have inspectors that are trained and paid to ensure our servicemen receive equipment in serviceable condition. (and all other countries should have depot inspectors)

If you put a small line level on your receiver, the flat of your Knox form and your rear sight and have a level bubble on all three gravity will NOT tell lies.

A short length of fishing line, a lead weight and a pencil tells me my 2A1 has a warped fore end, the line intersects the front sight and is centered with the bore.

Or to make some of you other people happy, the wood is as warped as the owner.



The Engineering principal KISS, “Keep it simple stupid”

[sprog]

Or to make some of you other people happy, the wood is as warped as the owner.

Does wood warp that much?

[spinecracker]

Maybe I should get one of those as that is about as straight as I can shoot - perhaps it might cancel out my aim

[Edward Horton]

Does wood warp that much?

I think Ed was setup for that one.

score
Sprog – 10
Ed - .025