1941 Long Branch Lee Enfield

[Eaglelord17]

There is a massive difference between doweling an ishy screw (a dumb idea) and changing out say, an EFD marked part on a BSA SMLE. Not the same thing at all.

A properly fitted correct part is fine, doesn’t destroy any history, and isn’t humpimg a rifle in most people’s opinions.

What is humping a rifle is to re-mark parts to have rare markings, re-numbering a part with serial fonts intended to deceive a buyer, etc.

Changing out a perfectly functioning part which was part of service for a alternate part just because of a few markings isn’t maintaining the history of the rifle.

In my opinion there is a level of duty to maintain the history as a collector, not to fabricate it. Changing out parts to make it ‘more correct’ is fabricating it.

There is a reason all matching factory correct is worth so much, and that is because it is rare. Most people just know the buzzwords behind it (I love seeing ‘mostly matching’ in ads, basically saying mismatched in a less obvious way), without understanding the actual meaning behind it.

 

[55recce]

Just because it has a reinforcing screw through the fore end does not automatically mean Ishapore. The Brits did it to. The Brit ones are done much more neatly and do not go right through to emerge on the other side.
Ishy screw are much cruder with larger and usually burred heads and they go right through to emerge on the other side and then filed flush.

Its a popular misconception that screw = Ishy but this is not always the case.

 

[milsurpo]

Just because it has a reinforcing screw through the fore end does not automatically mean Ishapore. The Brits did it to. The Brit ones are done much more neatly and do not go right through to emerge on the other side.
Ishy screw are much cruder with larger and usually burred heads and they go right through to emerge on the other side and then filed flush.

Its a popular misconception that screw = Ishy but this is not always the case.

I've seen this stated many times on Gunboards Enfield forum but have yet to see anyone show an actual example of an English installed Ishapore screw. I suspect the English approach was typically to just bin the forend if cracked and strongly doubt they ever installed them as a preventative measure as the Indians did. Frankly, every LE No. 1 and No. 4 should have a reinforcing screw in that location as it will save a forend if the draws area goes bad and it is shot. Peter Laidler's advice (on milsurps forum) that the screw should be replaced with a wooden dowel is quite ridiculous.

milsurpo

 

[Claven2]

I’ve never seen a Brit ishy screw myself, having handled hundreds of Enfields.

There are two grades of Indian installed screws, factory and field armorer. The factory ones are much neater and date to manufacture.

Virtually all the ones in no.4 rifles are field installs and crude.