No4 Enfield Ishapore Screw

[Old Albertan]

I have a 1942 Long Branch No4 with an Ishapore screw as well as the screws holes in the middle band for an Indian grenade sight. I recently came across an article by the venerable Peter Laidler indicating how to remove that screw and replace it with a wooden plug. The results he had were impressive and it is difficult to tell there was a screw in the first place. I am asking the milsurp community how they feel about this type of restoration. I see the screw as something ugly on what would otherwise be a great looking Enfield, but on the other hand, it tells a part of the rifle's history. The markings on this rifle indicate it started in Canadian service and probably went to the subcontinent after the war.

I should add that the forestock has a matching serial number on it, so a total replacement would be out of the question.

To plug or not to plug?

 

[bearhunter]

It's your rifle do as you want to.

IMHO that socalled Ishy screw is part of that rifle's history. Another thing, that screw was put there for a very good reason. It prevented the fore stock from cracking during hard use.

Indian and Pakistani rifles are well used and mostly well taken care of. They weren't nearly as fussy about appearance as they were function.

If your rifle shoots well and doesn't need any other work done such as re shaping the ways, I would just leave it alone. The Ishy screw isn't nearly dreaded as it was a few decades ago. I have seen as new No1 and No4 rifles with that screw installed and if you look it up you will notice that it was a British approved enhancement for a number of reasons. In all honesty I really don't understand why the rest of the nations using and manufacturing those rifles didn't install those reinforcing screws. The only thing I can figure is the added cost of drilling the hole and the screw and maybe the time to do the work.

 

[5THBATT]

I would leave it as well but as Bearhunter said "it's your rifle" Peter is an ex-Amourer & as such has no real 'collectors mentality' not trying to say anything bad about him, its just the way it is & he would agree.

 

[Old Albertan]

I have seen as new No1 and No4 rifles with that screw installed and if you look it up you will notice that it was a British approved enhancement for a number of reasons.

Yes, I recall the revelation that the screw was a British expedient method of repairing/preventing a splitting forestock. This rifle definitely saw time in Indian service as it does have the Indian grenade launcher sight holes as mentioned. I agree with you that it is part of the history of the rifle and I am inclined to leave it as is. Another interesting aspect of this particular rifle is that the buttstock has S.F.R. painted on it. The paint has been there for sometime and I am unwilling to remove it as it is also a part of the story, although I have not yet been able to find out what it meant yet.

 

[kjohn]

My two bits - leave it alone. To think the rifle made it from Long branch to India or somewhere in her realm is awesome. Being a 1942, its trail may be difficult to follow, but let your imagination take you along.

 

[cantom]

...I'd probably burn the stock set in the fireplace and replace it with some nice Long Branch walnut... I kid, I kid....sort of.

I'm not high on Ishy screws or the number the Indians do on the finish on the wood. I have a (T) buttstock that came from the Indians that I need to do something with. Cosmetically not the best.

I don't care about maintaining Indian history. Canadian, yes.

If there was any such nice LB walnut to be found that is...pretty thin on the ground these days.

Problem with filling the Ishy hole is, you'll probably be able to see it, and then there are those scallops for the grenade launcher sight to deal with too. It's unlikely you can disappear all of those holes.