Question on hand picked Ishapore Enfield from Aim

[bosshoff]

If you bought a Ishapore enfield from Aim Surplus and opted for the $10 "hand picked" upcharge, does the number on your bolt match your serial number? My rifle showed up with a mismatched bolt. All of the other numbers match. The stock has two awful repairs on the top and bottom of the heel of the stock where the buttplate attaches. I think Aim owes me $10.

 

[dracphelan]

1. Call and talk to AIM. Their customer service is usually very good.
2. Hand picked means they grab the best rifle out of the 5-10 rifles. This may have been the best. From what I've seen, these rifles have been selling fast.

 

[longhorngunman]

I paid the handpick on mine ( I usually don't) and am pleased with the result. All numbers match and I can't find any repairs on it whatsoever, a few dents and dings but the stock is very nice. Just have to get rid of all that globs of black paint .

 

[.45&TKD]

I paid for the handpick and am pleased. One stock repair on the buttstock that does not bother me and matching numbers.

Although if I could do it over again I would have reguested a 2A1 as the handpick.

 

[DMK]

Yes the bolt should match.

Handpick is subjective. "Best of five" Best what of five? Best looking on the surface most likely, they don't define. They are not going to look for every serial number on the rifle unless you ask them to (you can't even read them until you wipe off the paint and grime). The only time I've seen handpick worth the extra money is when you ask for something specific like a certain year, or a certain model (2A1 over a 2A), or all matching S/Ns (although the latter should be assumed unless they state otherwise IMO).

I bought two of these. One with the handpick and one without. I didn't specify anything (I should have known better). The one without handpick was nicer in every respect. Both had all matching numbers. Take from that what you want.

I've done a LOT of business with AIM (I should own 10% of the business!). I've called them with problems and they took care of me. They'll make it right for you.

 

[wrench]

I bought two of these, both handpicks, both matching numbers. One has a heel repair to the stock, the other has no stock repairs. Perfect bores.
I'm happy with them.

 

[Jackal]

Generally speaking, the hand pick option from most sellers is a racket at best. Most of the time u would have received the same rifle without the "hand pick's" extra price.

 

[Niner]

Hand Pick

My 2A from AIM wasn't "hand picked". The numbers match and other than one small stock repair, is in very good condition.

As stated by others, I've purchased firearms from AIM seveal times in the past and have been happy with my transactions. And... I see no reason to pay for hand pick in a rifle in this price catagory.

 

[phoglund]

I paid the handpick and received all matching numbers although the rifle did have a couple of well done repairs. Nice bore, nice overall wood, and good metal after the black paint garbage was removed.

 

[bosshoff]

Update

I sent an email to Aim the other day, detailing the condition as well as the mismatched bolt of my Enfield, and my expectations. They emailed back, and explained that they normally don't look for the serial numbers unless requested to do so. The hand pick option is basically a sight inspection. Then they said sorry for the confussion and reversed the $10 charge. Needless to say, they have made me a loyal customer, and I WILL do business with them again.

 

[DMK]

Cool deal.

Unlike a lot of other companies unfortunately, AIM does know the meaning of customer service.

 

[Pixsurguy]

Received my AIM Surplus Ishapore 2A on Friday.

I, also, paid the extra ten bucks. Bore is good, could not find any rust anywhere (but have a long way to go yet), appears to have matching numbers. Major repair done on heel of stock. Extremely non-matching pieces of wood inserted and two significant cracks in the rear-most one.

After detailed disassembly and 1-1/2 hours of scrubbing with mineral spirits, I got most of the grease off of the rifle. So much grease, lots of it old and oxidized (not to mention huge amnounts of old black paint) that there was no way anyone could have determined the actual condition of the weapon.

The coating of black paint was so thick that the screw slots could not be seen and it was almost impossible to slide the adjustable rear sight fore and aft. Further, the lever at the left rear of the action was not movable. Had to use lots of paint solvent and ice pick to get it where it would move. What is that anyway? Safety? Bolt release?

About half of the screws were all buggered up from morons using ill-fitting screwdrivers and unless I can dress them up properly with a Dremel Tool, I'll have to get replacements from someplace. I'm thinking that I'll start looking around for replacement stock parts as well, particularly the butt, which is really bad.

After much more scrubbing (some with a fine stainless steel wire brush) I was able to see the stamping on the right side of the receiver where the two halves of the stock come together. It is a 1965 gun.

The plan is to use sufficient paint remover to get ALL of that crappy black paint off the weapon and after smoothing out any metal damage, I'll have it Duracoated in black. I'm sure that by the time I'm through with it, I'll have spent several hundred Dollars more on it than I paid for it. It will be a long and expensive process, but I expect that it'll be worth it.

Hopefully, I'll get the chance to take it to the range within the next couple of weeks. That'll be before I get it finished, of course, but it will give me some idea of how it shoots.

Pixsurguy
Louisville, KY

 

[Niner]

Pixsurguy

What you refer to as the "lever at the left rear of the action " is the safety.

Before you spend several hundred dollars on it you should reconsider keeping it in collectible condition. You'll never recover your money if you do make major "improvements". Even the black paint that is ugly, I admit, is authentic.

 

[Pixsurguy]

Yep - just checked the Numrich Arms site and discovered that the part was the safety.

Re keeping it collectiible, I really have no interest in that. The huge amount of black paint has rendered it almost inoperable and it is badly chipped in many, many places. I've no choice but to remove at least some of it and if I'm going to remove some of it, I may as well go all the way. The reason I was thinking black Duracoat was to at least have it LOOK authentic. As to recovering my money - I have no intention of doing so. I buy guns to enjoy and to shoot - not as an "investment". I'm not a collector in the normal sense, just love 'em and have serial love affairs with different ones from time to time.

 

[Diomed]

Even the black paint that is ugly, I admit, is authentic.

Only if you prefer all your rifles to stay packed in cosmoline. The paint's a cheap, half-assed preservative, not a finish. A real painted finish (Suncorite) won't come off without some serious solvents and elbow grease.

 

[LeadPumper]

Here's my handpick from AIM

Ishapore 2A with matching numbers. It took a solid week to get it clean (several days of soaking and scrubbing just to get the paint off enough to get to the screws!)

It was a lot of work, but it looks like it was worth it. Bore is dark but shiney with strong lands and grooves. (only took a handfull of patches to clean)

Repairs include heel of stock, top handguard, and several brazed locations on the magazine. There's actually three different types of wood on this thing...

Hopefully I'll get a chance to range test it this weekend (hopefully...)





-LeadPumper

 

[.45&TKD]

LeadPumper,

Outstanding photos!

What did you use to clean the metal?
What kind of sling is that?

 

[LeadPumper]

.45&TKD- Outstanding photos!

What did you use to clean the metal?
What kind of sling is that?

Thanks, photos courtesy of cheapo Kodak digital camera and lighting from my overhead pool table lamps.

I used about a gallon of Simple Green overall. First on rags to get the top layers off (soak, go get a sammich, come back an hour later...wipe it off, soak some more, repeat...), then when I could get to the screws to disassemble the thing I dropped the metal parts into Glad style tupperware and let it sit overnight. Smaller parts went into 35mm film containers.

All the parts came out cleaner, and with a little more elbow grease (and carb cleaner, and toothbrushs, and dental picks...) everything looked good. After that, all the metal got a nice coating of CLP. (Simple Green leaves metal bone dry)

The sling is just a spare leather mauser type sling I had in the parts box. Doubt it's correct for the rifle, but correct for the time period.

-LeadPumper

 

[MechAg94]

I guess I feel blessed. I picked up my Ishapore Saturday. It looks pretty good. The paint is there, but not excessive. All the screws appeared to be serviceable and accessible. I didn't notice any repairs. The bore looked good. I haven't really disassembled it yet so I have more work to do. The action is sluggish so I think I need to get some cleaning done in the bolt and receiver.

I got a select K31 as well. I only thought the bore on my Enfield was good. After cleaning, that K31 bore is practically polished. However, the wood is not really any better than my walnut K31 I bought last year. I don't know if the selection is getting worse or if the walnuts are all now "select". I am happy with it either way.

 

[Flyboy73]

I too and thinking about stripping the paint off my 2A.

Are going to recoat the metal with a new finish or just keep it clean and oiled?

Brion

 

[Flyboy73]

Whats CLP by the way?

Brion

 

[LeadPumper]

Break-Free CLP

http://www.break-free.com/

Cleans,

Lubricates,

Protects.

CLP.

Works well in areas that grease can't, or shouldn't go. Also penetrates well enough for light storage duty.

For now I'm just planning on leaving the light park on the metal and keeping it oiled. If it becomes a problem later I'll re-blue, but not unless I have to. (I knda like the way it looks...)

-LeadPumper

 

[STAGE 2]

Leadpumper, where did you find stripper clips for your enfield?

 

[LeadPumper]

Clips

They're not Enfield specific stripper clips, they just happen to work.

They're from the the Aussie 7.62 F4 milsurp that was floating around the last few years. The pack stuff came in plastic blister packs, the case stuff came in clips. I (and my rifles) like the Aussie stuff, the clips are a bonus.

Here's another pic:



-LeadPumper

 

[silverlance]

all well and good, but

how do the darn things shoot?

i just bought a k98 from classic arms yesterday for $219, bent bolt with waffenstamp.

now y'all making me want to get an ishy too.

before i got my c&r i used to buy from big 5. they have lots of very beautiful looking guns, but accuracy on nearly all of them are horrible.

2 m91/30 1 m38 1m24/47.