Enfield T from India?

[sledge]

Hoping you Enfield T experts out there could give me some advice on some of the markings and perhaps history of this Enfield T that has a scope and scope case.
Does the Ishapore screw means it is definately Indian? I have seen some writings that some British armorers also did this. Would Peter know the answer to this?
What does the white painted S/2 mean? And why the wood repairs to the stock? Did a sniper notch this rifle with "kills"?

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[RJW NZ]

Nice rifle and pics, made by BSA (- M47).
Re screw, yes that screw was a proscribed thing to do but its 90% or more that it saw Indian service/overhaul at some time.
Re kill marks, the answer is probably not. Some blokes , and non snipers too, had kill scores of 100-200 and were toured for war bond rallies. If they did notches, there'd be not much left there, lol, they'd be whittling a tooth pick.
Its an interesting question that overlaps with another thread here called 'Grandads rifle'. If one did have one's one's rifle for the duration then the situation for keeping score on the rifle does exist, whether they did or not and why not is a good question.

[PrinzEugen]

The S2 is probably some kind of unit/rack number. I've seen repairs in those areas of the butt on quite a few rifles, and I think it's just a part which would have seen lots of wear.
Definitely Indian - seems like quite a lot of '43s went over there - generally the 'well used' ones according to anecdote, so it's more likely your rifle saw a fair bit of action. The no4 mk1 markings on the receiver were clearly added later, probably in service in India - the original BSA ones are very faint normally. The magazine looks like it was originally from a Longbranch rifle, judging from the serial number on it. It looks like the serial number on the wrist has been restamped - again common in Indian rifles.
Nice gun - is the butt marked with the scope number?

[Peter Laidler]

All your qq's have been answered. We were not permitted to stamp marks anywhere except the butt socket. Anything on the bodyside had to be engraved EXCEPT the letter T that could be '........marked at the end of the rifle designation in order to indicate the change in status to that of a telescope rifle'

As for wood patching, then believe me, it was simpler to patch a fore-end than to fit a new or used one!

[sledge]

Thanks guys. I have gone through the forum and seen some info that helped me piece some things together. It appears your thoughts are in line with what I suspected. I have an Indian FN that also has a strange white marking (rack number?) on the butt. So it appears it is a well used Enfield T that was probably passed into Indian service. During or after WW2. The markings seem to be in line with a legitimate rifle correct? Does the scope base seem like an original? The scope turrents turn easily and the optics seem good.
It is not as pretty as some Enfield Ts I have seen out there, but it has a some character. I am not a fan of the Suncorite though. I have a nice Long Branch No.4 that shoots like a dream but it has that Suncorite black painted finish. Problem is that is chips away and it looks like black paint. No Ishaphore screw but there is an Iraqi marking on it. Who and when did this Suncorite get applied with Enfields? Was it done by the British prior to export/refinishing? Or is it something the Indians did along with the reinforcing screw? Did Canada do this too?

[Peter Laidler]

To avoid the need of many forumers to re-write zillions of pages again, I suggest that you read back and back. All the answers are here somewhere!

[vintage hunter]

Your bracket is real. It's been around the block a time or two though, the 4 barred out and 1 readable s/n indicate it's been on at least 5 different rifles during it's service life with the last being an Indian reworked No.4T.

[Peter Laidler]

Re the above.... The telescope 9310 is within a bunch of closely numbered ex Indian Army Mk2's too

[Warren]

One thing about the Indian markings is the poor quality of the re-stamping. You will notice that one is missing the T however the TR is found on the butt sockets of both.

Attachment 33540Attachment 33541

[Roger Payne]

Warren,
I concur entirely, although I've seen a few that have escaped having the crudely hand stamped 'No 4 Mk 1' reapplied at all. I kept a well worn BSA 1943 that was one of a batch of four I imported from Milarm nearly twenty years ago, partly for this reason. The other reason was that the receiver side-wall T was smaller than standard, but complete with serifs like the bigger 'standard' T. I have seen at least three like this now, & all were 43 BSA's. Anyone else seen a 'little T 43' (or any other date for that matter)?? I'll try & post a picture at some point.....but bear with me, I'm technologically challenged!

ATB