Enfield ID -- Ishapore or ???

[ArmedBear]

I picked up a nice Enfield for $100, without a magazine. I'd thought it was a pre-war No1Mk3, but now I think it might be an Ishapore.

Can anyone help?

It's marked No1Mk3, and RFI 1962 on the wrist band. There is no caliber marking anywhere.

Is this a .303, even?

Will a No4Mk1 surplus magazine fit in it?

Thanks!

 

[SMLE]

RFI is Rifle Factory Ishapore, so it is indeed Indian. The #1 Mk3 indicates that it is a .303. The 7.62x51 rifles are marked 2A or 2A1. A number 4 magazine will not work in a #1, just WHY the Brits changed the magazines that way is unknown to me. But any #1 magazine should fit. It may need to be tweaked to feed properly. The magazines were individually fitted to the Lee Enfield rifles, unlike today's battle rifles. As always, if you have doubts, take it to a gunsmith and have it checked.

 

[ArmedBear]

Thank you!

Now I know where to look for magazines...

So, even though I have a WW II No4Mk1, the NEWER 1Mk3 still uses the OLDER magazine design?

BTW a reseller I contacted says their aftermarket mags will fit both. Could that be true, or was the helpdesk person mistaken? (Their excellent return policy would make it unprofitable for them to consciously lie about it.)

Also, is there any point to getting extra magazines for each rifle? Or should I be satisfied with ONE that actually fits?

 

[mrmeval]

You will have to make a replacement fit and feed. It may take bending metal and some patience or it could work perfectly the first time.

Then just use stripper clips or manually feed it. It's meant to be removed to be cleaned but not really meant for magazine swaps. You'll note it's a slow process to remove the empty, getting a loaded one in can be a trial.

http://www.e-gunparts.com/product.asp?chrProductSKU=195680
21.95+s&h

 

[Diomed]

A number 4 magazine will not work in a #1, just WHY the Brits changed the magazines that way is unknown to me.

The No. 4 magazine can be made to work in the No. 1, with some tweaking and some luck. They're not hard enough to find to bother, though.

The change in the magazine was for the same reason they switched to the No. 4. It's a simpler design, easier to manufacture.

BTW a reseller I contacted says their aftermarket mags will fit both. Could that be true, or was the helpdesk person mistaken? (Their excellent return policy would make it unprofitable for them to consciously lie about it.)

Aftermarkets are a crapshoot. Unless you plan to hunt with it in a state that limits your magazine capacity, just get an original.

If you need to reload fast, do as mrmeval suggests and use strippers (or more properly "chargers"). Don't get the useless Italian ones sold on ebay and most online retailers - they are junk and nearly impossible to use.

 

[mrmeval]

Yea, get the rusty pile of junk chargers' They work fine when cleaned up.
I'd love to get a pile of them refinished.

 

[SMLE]

The charger sold by International Military Antiques seem to work fine I've bought a couple of bags of 20 and had good luck. Look for blued not parkerized ones.