1915 SHTLE, Opinions Request

[chuckchili]

I just got home with this rifle after picking it up a gun show today. I have been looking for one on line and at shows without much success, then don't seem to pop up at shows here very often. So I just dove in. The bore is very nice, so I am assuming it might be a replacement. (Haven't verified yet) Numbers match except for the bolt which has been ground down and has no numbers, and the magazine. The stock is a replacement too I guess- it has '1942' stamped into it. Serial number is 5451, does anyone has information on production? I would appreciate any information about this rifle that a newbie like me should know. How did I do, I paid $200? Thanks!

Information

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[Jollygreenslugg]

Looks like it may have Aussie and Indian heritage. The holes through the nosecap ears is common on Aussie rifles, but the shiny non-blued finish looks like someone has cleaned it up. The scraps of black paint on the bottom right corner of the receiver in the last shot may be the remains of what was cleaned off. Black paint is usually a good sign that it has seen service in India.

A good number of rifles went from Australia to India in the 1950s and I'm thinking that this could be one of these. The FTR looks like it may be an Aussie thing as Indian refurbs usually ended up with an FR and date on the left hand side of the buttsocket, and it was common for all markings to be scrubbed from rifles when they were FRed in India.

I can't read the smal markings on the cocking piece, but it looks like it *may* have an Aussie seven-pointed star. Could we have some details of other stamps and markings please? Especially on the LHS of the buttsocket and on the barrel/receiver knox form under the rear handguard, which slips off easily enough. Also any stamps in the wood (SLAZ?) and more details from the nosecap and bands. Are there MA, BA , FA or OA stamps on it anywhere? These are Australian stampings.

As to the wood, I'm leaning towards grimy coachwood, so another Aussie sign. The brass reinforcing threaded wire on the top rear of the forestock is common on Aussie rifles.

Overall, I'd go with an Aussie FTRed rifle going to India and being surplussed from there to...well, wherever you are. I'd pay $200 for this rifle if it was available to me.

Cheers,
Matt

[chuckchili]

Thanks for the reply Jolly. Jeez, I didn't even notice the black paint, there's a little in a lot of the corners. On the LHS of the butt socket has "MA/51". The right side of cocking piece has a little crown, under that an "x" and under that "H6" and the left side has an "H".

There are some tiny traces of what looks like red paint on the sides of the butt stock, but as far as marks- I think there is either a "10" or a "1C" right behind the cocking piece, a very faint "III*" above the 1942 on the right side of the butt stock and my serial number is lightly stamped about an inch back from the bayonet lug. My serial number is stamped at the end of the bayonet "button" (I don't know what its correct name is). At the front of each front sight ear there is a small star. "MA" is stamped on the bottom of the nosecap in between the bayonet lug and bayonet button. The band is hinged, has an "H" stamped inside and a "FD H2" on the outside, really small.

Other markings are JJCO NY NY on the rear of the receiver (Importer?) There's the serial number stamped on the underside of the fold up rear sight next to "WA 42". Stamped on the top of the barrel just behind the rear sight is "HV SC". Now for the fun area- where the barrel meets the receiver. Serial # 46278 is lined thru and my serial is stamped above, next to that there is a seven point star. On the left side there is "6 42" (barrel date?) and "MA VI" stamped twice and "MA VII" once. Below that there is a crossed flag stamp.

Thanks for the info so far!

[Brian Dick]

The rifles imported to the USA back in the late 1980's by John Jovino in Brooklyn, NY were purchased directly from Australian stores. There were thousands of them and it looks like you certainly scored one. Strange that the bolt wasn't renumbered but all in all it appears honest as FTR in Australia in 1951. It had been FTR'd before too with the installation of the '42 date barrel. That one could probably tell some stories if it could talk. From WW1 service through WWII and possibly even Korea.

[Peter Laidler]

When I said in an earlier thread that we'd renumber bolts without a thought when needed, then this rifle is a good example of how we DIDN'T do it. With a xxxxing great grinding wheel.............. Just a gentle file to remove the old and then re-stamp the new. We'd never remove the proof mark because the examiner at the Field or Base workshop would scrap the bolt.

[841NER]

When I said in an earlier thread that we'd renumber bolts without a thought when needed, then this rifle is a good example of how we DIDN'T do it. With a xxxxing great grinding wheel.............. Just a gentle file to remove the old and then re-stamp the new. We'd never remove the proof mark because the examiner at the Field or Base workshop would scrap the bolt.

I'd thought of your posts on bolt re-numbering as I viewed that image! How much care would have been taken in selecting the bolt? I'm thinking this was done by the importer.

Great piece of history to have Chuckchili. Are you going to shoot it? I'd love to read an update here.

[chuckchili]

I do plan on shooting it. With the mystery bolt I need to get my headspace checked first. In the meantime, I have taken off the wood and am planning on doing some sun treatment on it this weekend (weather permitting) to get some of the gunk out of the stock.