I was given an Ishapore by a friend, he said it was a "Jungle Carbine". The rifle has markings on it that I need help getting an exact ID on; G.R.I. Ishapore, 1940, SHTL.E, III. Also the donor has no idea what happened to the bolt. Can someone help me with ID and where I might find a bolt? The steel is in excellent condition, has the steel sights, flash suppressor, magazine and the original wooden stock has been shortened on the forearm and a rubber recoil pad added. I would like to find the bolt and an original stock if possible. And at the risk of sounding really ignorant, I was told this is chambered in .308, I thought these were pretty much all .303 british.
Ishapore is the factory in India and they didn't make Jungle Carbines. They did repair alot tho.
This may have been done by NavyArms or Gibbs Rifle Co. as civilian carbines
I have a bit of a prob with an Mklll as .308
First thing that comes to mind is the Mklll could not withstand the .308 pressures .
However , India made the 2A series rifle with better steel just for the 7.62 round but that was in the '60's . There was a good number of these rifles converted by the above mentioned companys as well.
Get it checked out before firing !
Photo's would definately help...we'd all like to see it !
You have a No1 Mk3 that has been sporterised (bubba'd) into a carbine - It still looks as if it has a 303 magazine so I'd be careful about what ammo you use.
If it has been modified to a 308 it will say on it somwhere.
You cannot just buy any old bolt and 'stick it in'.
You will need a No1 Mk3 bolt and bolt head but you will also need to sort out the headspace :
If its still in 303 you will need 303 headspace gauges, if its in 308 you'll need 308 headspace gauges.
If its in 308 you will also need a 308 extractor.
If you know what you are doing and have access to the parts and gauges its easy to do. If you do not then I'd say get a qualified Enfield gunsmith to look at it (NOT any old gunsmith, but one with Enfield knowledge)
It'll probably cost you more to sort it out (and I'd still be dubious with a 308 in a No1) than it would to buy another - correct - example.
Play safe - hang it on the wall.
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If it is in .308 I would think it would be a 2A, or a 2A1. While based on the MkIII's, they were manufactured new in 7.62 Nato out of a higher quality steel and can handle the pressure no problem. .308 is a little higher pressure then the Nato stuff though, keep that in mind.
I am a little concerned that the magazine appears to be a MKIII instead of a 2A. I may have forgotten what they look like, but I thought they were a little more square.
It is unfortunate it has had the stock cut and the receiver tapped for a scope. However, if it is a 2A or a 2A1, those are most likely the only changes and it should be safe to shoot. I am not sure where you can find a .308 SMLE bolt right now, and wood is going to be difficult. There are a lot of people who ordered synthetic stocks for theirs when the rifles were $99 in 2006 (or 05, a few years back anyway). So while there is hope for finding wood, it is still going to take some digging to locate.
Wish I had more information. I know when I was looking for a new bolt for my SMLE it was surprisingly difficult to dig one up.
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Last edited by BaserRonin; 03-05-2010 at 05:56 PM.
If it is in .308 I would think it would be a 2A, or a 2A1. While based on the MkIII's, they were manufactured new in 7.62 Nato out of a higher quality steel and can handle the pressure no problem. .308 is a little higher pressure then the Nato stuff though, keep that in mind.
I am a little concerned that the magazine appears to be a MKIII instead of a 2A. I may have forgotten what they look like, but I thought they were a little more square.
It is unfortunate it has had the stock cut and the receiver tapped for a scope. However, if it is a 2A or a 2A1, those are most likely the only changes and it should be safe to shoot. I am not sure where you can find a .308 SMLE bolt right now, and wood is going to be difficult. There are a lot of people who ordered synthetic stocks for theirs when the rifles were $99 in 2006 (or 05, a few years back anyway). So while there is hope for finding wood, it is still going to take some digging to locate.
Wish I had more information. I know when I was looking for a new bolt for my SMLE it was surprisingly difficult to dig one up.
My concerns are it doesnt say 2A or 2A1 on the butt socket & it is a 303 magazine.
If it has been modified to a 308 then I'd be very careful.
To be honest I cannot see anyone going to the expense of re-barreling a No1 Mk3 with a 2A / 2A1 barrel.
SMLE bolts and bolt heads are available everywhere (almost dime a dozen) the problem is getting one that a) Fits, b) does not over rotate.
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Its not what you've got thats important, its what you hav'nt got, but still want, thats important.
Want to restore Ishapore 
