1960s RFI Ishapore No.1 MkIII*

[Capt.Mainwaring]

What is the general opinion of 60's period Ishapore SMLEs in terms of general manufacturing quality? I have seen some picture of rough looking 1980s production, but what about 60s period examples?

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[Thunderbox]

What is the general opinion of 60's period Ishapore SMLEs in terms of general manufacturing quality? I have seen some picture of rough looking 1980s production, but what about 60s period examples?

The 1960s No1 MkIII*s seem to have come off the same production line as the 2A1s of the time - if you compare the receivers of the two types of rifle side by side, they are identical in the smallest details of machining marks and finish. Exterior "looks" apart, the MkIII*s seem perfectly good quality rifles. Many/most of them appear to have been built as wire-wrapped GF rifles for internal security purposes, and these often appear to have shot very little ball ammo by the time they appear on the surplus market.

[5thBatt]

Exterior "looks" apart, the MkIII*s seem perfectly good quality rifles. Many/most of them appear to have been built as wire-wrapped GF rifles for internal security purposes, and these often appear to have shot very little ball ammo by the time they appear on the surplus market.

Describes my 1963 Ishapore MkIII* GF rifle perfectly.
Full matching numbers & the woodwork looks like a bunch of parts slapped together.