Ishapore Mk.III?

[Singer B]

I'm a lefty and never had any issues with mine. Are you talking about the thin screw at the rear of the trigger guard?

[Bob Womack]

I'm a lefty and never had any issues with mine. Are you talking about the thin screw at the rear of the trigger guard?

Yep, the one on the left side.

Bob

[Singer B]

It shouldn't be an issue. If the screw is messed up, you ca purchase a new.one that takes about a minute to replace. I've never had an issue with it and the rifle is actually a joy to shoot.

[Bob Womack]

It shouldn't be an issue. If the screw is messed up, you ca purchase a new.one that takes about a minute to replace. I've never had an issue with it and the rifle is actually a joy to shoot.

Marvelous. And thanks!


Bob

[Singer B]

I went and pulled mine out of the safe. While the first pad of my index finger rests on the trigger, the second pad actually does touch the screw head. When I place pressure on the trigger, my finger arches and takes it off the screw head. I've fired hundreds of rounds through that rifle and never had an issue with it. Hope that helps and now I'm going to put it back in the safe.

[Bob Womack]

I went and pulled mine out of the safe. While the first pad of my index finger rests on the trigger, the second pad actually does touch the screw head. When I place pressure on the trigger, my finger arches and takes it off the screw head. I've fired hundreds of rounds through that rifle and never had an issue with it. Hope that helps and now I'm going to put it back in the safe.

Thanks! That is quite detailed and does indeed help. How do you like off-hand cocking? I suppose if you support the front on bags it doesn't disrupt things

Bob

[Bruce_in_Oz]

That rear trigger-guard screw is one of those parts perennially butchered by the "unknowing". When the rifle is seriously stripped that that little transverse screw comes out AFTER the bigger screw in the front of the trigger-guard is removed. Should be no problem getting a replacement from the better parts suppliers.. If the slot is not too mangled on such a screw, it can be "blacksmithed" back to reasonable condition by holding the shank of the screw in soft jaws in a vise and applying some gentle peening with the appropriate small POLISHED face hammer. then the slot can be tidied up with the judicious application of a fine Swiss file or tiny hacksaw. A dab of cold blue is optional. Probably several "workshop" videos about this on the intertubes. People restoring all manner of non-firearm machinery do this sort of stuff all the time.

Caveat: There is a SET sequence (and certain prescribed techniques) for stripping and reassembling Lee Enfields. These MUST be followed if there are not to be tears before bed-time. LOTS of stuff to be found on the other pages of this website.

Have fun!

[Bob Womack]

That rear trigger-guard screw is one of those parts perennially butchered by the "unknowing". When the rifle is seriously stripped that that little transverse screw comes out AFTER the bigger screw in the front of the trigger-guard is removed. Should be no problem getting a replacement from the better parts suppliers.. If the slot is not too mangled on such a screw, it can be "blacksmithed" back to reasonable condition by holding the shank of the screw in soft jaws in a vise and applying some gentle peening with the appropriate small POLISHED face hammer. then the slot can be tidied up with the judicious application of a fine Swiss file or tiny hacksaw. A dab of cold blue is optional. Probably several "workshop" videos about this on the intertubes. People restoring all manner of non-firearm machinery do this sort of stuff all the time.

Caveat: There is a SET sequence (and certain prescribed techniques) for stripping and reassembling Lee Enfields. These MUST be followed if there are not to be tears before bed-time. LOTS of stuff to be found on the other pages of this website.

Have fun!

Thanks a bunch, Bruce. Loads of good info!

Bob

[Singer B]

Since lefties are usually slower on the bolt, we just have to be better shots and hit the target the first time!! Since the groups I shoot with do so just for fun, we never really notice the difference!

[Bob Womack]

Well, this situation has developed a bit. I visited the '67 rifle at the nearby store that I spoke of above before, several times, and discovered that is was a mix-master with at least three different serial numbers on the parts. The front hand guard is missing its fingers, it was finsheded with the black paint and there was a lot of missing finish, the front sight ears were bent as were the sling swivels, and the the front sight was way over to one side, the right side. It might need that to zero up, but it makes getting lined up kind of hard for a lefty like me. The price was right for today's era ($500) but it had those demerits.

Then yesterday I happened to remember that there is local dealer that specializes in milsurps. On a lark, I gave him a call. He said he did have an Ishy 2A1 and quoted a price that was a little higher. So, before I plunked down my money I decided to go visit. This morning my wife and I drove out there. The rifle was hanging at the bottom of their wall of Brit rifles. It is a 1965 B range with the visible serial numbers on the bolt, receiver, rear sight, and front sight guard matching. The metal is totally Parkerized, not painted, with the original park being in good condition. Of course, the rear hand guard screw had to be goobered. The safety was super stiff. The stock is complete, the color is uniform. There are arsenal repairs at top and bottom of the buttstock by the butt cap and on the rear handguard. The magazine catch works well and the magazine fits well. I had them cycle a round to make sure it feeds properly. My wife was tremendously impressed with the condition of this one and the fact that it appears all-original.

We went back to look at the first one and frankly, it paled by comparison. Lots of bangs and bruises and work to be done. So, we grabbed coffee and went out to think, sitting in my wife's car with the rain drumming down. It is good to have a wife that wants the best for you. Vince Gill has said of his wife that he is "just grateful to be married to a kind woman." Mine really urged me that if I was going to buy one, that I go for a good one.

So, we made the half-hour drive back out to the milsurp dealer. Their gunsmith and I looked over the rear hand guard screw and the safety. He took the rifle to his shop and peened the rear trigger guard screw, smoothed it with a jeweler's file, and touched it up with Cool Blue. He also used some light penetrating gun oil on the safety and it began to lighten up. So, I bought it. I also picked up a period sling for it as well.

And here is a fun closing of a circle: back when I was a kid, the family was shopping for antiques and my brother and I came across a pair of bayonets. I ended up with one in extremely good condition marked "Australia." I hadn't really paid much attention to it but in my research over the last couple of weeks I noticed a bayonet that looked like mine. I pulled mine out and used a loupe to read the markings and, sure enough, it is an M1907, the original bayonet for Mk.IIIs and 2A1s. So, not only do I have an M1907, now I have a correct rifle to stick it on!

Bob