INDIA'S ENFIELD'S BY COL. ROBERT. W. EDWARDS
- Thread starter bros
- Start date
Been out of print for years. Also, fwiw, the author was later disgraced. He allegedly humped some of the rifles pictured in his book to sell them later at significant profit.
I sold my copy on eBay maybe 5 years ago and got something like 100 USD for it. I was surprised.
I sold my copy on eBay maybe 5 years ago and got something like 100 USD for it. I was surprised.
Well hopefully the research and the text that the author wrote about is factual and not compromised in a attempt "to just sell books" quickly.
If the allegations are true it sounds like he was motivated by the almighty dollar.
What is your opinion of the book? Have you come across anything that seemed that seemed to differ in your knowledge of Indian Enfields?
I’m confused.. How do you prove a rifle has been humped to justify adding the extra cost?
Some of the photos of rifles in the books apparently had faked markings, but aside from that, I think the book was well written.
When a tired rifle is sold with mismatched numbers and markings, then re-appears for sale as matching and pristine condition with a big price tag, you can draw whatever conclusions you like.
Most of the info on Indian arms was second hand and conjecture.
Prime info and documents relating to the Indian arms was still listed as SECRET into the 70's and some, well beyond.
Trying to get any info out of the Indian government or Military was impossible unless you had it in hand and the sticking point was amount of baksheesh needed to be paid and how. Unless you have dealt in the middle east the the Sub continent you will never understand it.
Dealing in India is a game and they will let a deal go even is starving in the street.
It is a cultural thing.....
Bob did get some info but all of it was third and forth hand, plus a lot of speculation.
It became common knowledge he made the product and then wrote the book, along like many others in the field.
Sometimes being the right place at the wrong time can garner more info than is needed or required...TMI
Prime info and documents relating to the Indian arms was still listed as SECRET into the 70's and some, well beyond.
Trying to get any info out of the Indian government or Military was impossible unless you had it in hand and the sticking point was amount of baksheesh needed to be paid and how. Unless you have dealt in the middle east the the Sub continent you will never understand it.
Dealing in India is a game and they will let a deal go even is starving in the street.
It is a cultural thing.....
Bob did get some info but all of it was third and forth hand, plus a lot of speculation.
It became common knowledge he made the product and then wrote the book, along like many others in the field.
Sometimes being the right place at the wrong time can garner more info than is needed or required...TMI
During the years I've collected Lee Enfields, I have yet to see any internet guru debunk any of Edward's classifications. I have no doubt that he used observations of his and other collections in his attempt to make sense out of the wide variety of Indian "conversions" and "repairs" but how else would one do it? There wouldn't likely be an available India Govt. document categorizing, for example, the different types of older rifles that were converted to Mk II**(IP). The fact is that most national archives around the world have digitised very, very little of their total material and that includes Kew in England. There is no better source of info on Indian Enfields than the Edwards book.
milsurpo
milsurpo
A bit of info was available in the British List of Changes at the Pattern Room in England
Many years ago I went through it and there was little in there other than a few modifications such as the STEN mags converted to 20 rounds and some bayonet info.
There was nothing on major changes in armament.
Many years ago I went through it and there was little in there other than a few modifications such as the STEN mags converted to 20 rounds and some bayonet info.
There was nothing on major changes in armament.
