Enfield MK III* Possible Re-Arsenal to India?

[neoisprettycool]

Hello, I am new to the forum. I joined to do some research on some of my milsurps. This particular rifle has intrigued me. What I do know is that this is a MK III* BSA Enfield made in 1916. What I don't understand is why there is an Ishapore stock on it. As a collector, I'd like to hear that this rifle was shipped to India, and re-fitted with a stock; As apposed to some owner just fitting an Ishapore stock on it. I have spent hours on different forums and resources trying to find one like it. I wanted to see if anyone here can help me learn more about this piece, and perhaps authenticate it as a re-arsenaled rifle sent to India. I'll provide as many pictures I can of all the markings I can see. If the pictures are unclear, or I need to look for specific markings not shown, just let me know. Thank you for the help.

http://prntscr.com/gw9bwn
http://prntscr.com/gw9c30
http://prntscr.com/gw9c7z
http://prntscr.com/gw9cd4 (Difficult to get a picture of that marking.)
http://prntscr.com/gw9cjo
http://prntscr.com/gw9coc

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[neoisprettycool]

For whatever reason part of the guard is cut right before the rear sight: http://prntscr.com/gwalir

[Maxwell Smart]

Butt stock certainly has Indian markings; are than any stampings on the left side of the wrist socket?

[Bindi2]

Standard Indian stampings on the original stock.

[browningautorifle]

For whatever reason part of the guard is cut right before the rear sight

Normal mod for a damaged handguard.

[jrhead75]

The butt is marked as an Indian Army Ordnance Corps Grenade Firing rifle. I don't see any evidence of wrapping or reinforcement on the front end, although the wood looks to me to have been sanded. Hard to say much more with what's shown.

[neoisprettycool]

Right thank you guys. As for the markings on the other side of the wrist, It has a crown, underneath it a Capital L and a perpendicular E facing downward. It is impossible for me to get a picture of it, very faint. If you guys need any more pictures of something specific, I can do so. I don't really see any more markings though. Is it possible that the arsenal just re-finished this stock and this is indeed the original stock? In the end, I just want to know if this is original. Thank you again.

[Peter Laidler]

Come a bit closer and listen to an Armourrer who's been round the block several times. In fact, hundreds of times. I mean a real armourer. Not an enthustastic amateur who's read a few books and fixed a few rifles. The mere idea that your rifle could be original - or even remotely original after 100 years of service and probably 70 of those in the Indian Army is so far removed from reality as I know it as to be virtually impossible. Sorry to be blunt and forthright but that's how life is in very probably, every Army in the world. Indeed, until 1965, Britain was still training Indian Army Armourer Artificers. It has been rebuilt, parts changed etc etc etc more times than Humpty Dumpty*

* English childs poem

[Flying10uk]

I just want to know if this is original.

Are you referring to just the stock rather than the whole rifle?

He may just be asking if the stock/woodwork is original to the receiver rather than if the whole gun is original?

[Ridolpho]

Neo: As indicated in post #8, it's not a common occurrence to find a No. 1 that's all original. You may, however, find that some important pieces like barrel and bolt are original to the gun which is generally considered a good thing by collectors. Remove the handguards and see what markings you can see and photograph on both sides of the barrel reinforce. If rebarreled somewhere that will be evident. If the bolt matches the receiver serial #, photograph any markings you can find on it and post. You've concluded the forend to be Ishapore? If so, it predates the Ishapore forends that have the steel strap at the rear end. Is there a serial # stamped on it? The more you can photograph and post, the better.

Ridolpho