Ishapore question

[gerardjohnson]

I have a rifle marked on the left side of the butt socket:

P
.410 (with a line through it)
RFI
1942

These are the only markings on the rifle except the usual proof marks and a P on the barrel (re-barreled).
Was this rifle originally made in .410 then converted in 1942 to .303, or would it have been previously .303 re-barreled to .410 then back to .303?
Were any rifles originally made in .410? I always understood that all .410's were converted from old .303's.
Should there be an earlier manufacture date somewhere?

I had another Mk III made in England during the Great War that had been converted to .410 and back to .303 during WW2 marked FTR Ishapore with an Ishapore stock, but it still had the original date of manufacture and the FTR date.

 

[smellie]

It would have been MADE as a .303, then converted to the .410 Musket 2.22" round.

If there is nothing on the RIGHT side of the Butt Socket, then it will have been scrubbed on conversion to a .410 Musket.

That the .410 marking appears to have been cancelled would indicate re-conversion back to .303.

Some of the rifles got around just as much as some of the men!

Hope this helps.