Odd Enfield ?
- Thread starter raptor660
- Start date
maple_leaf_eh
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Agreed this is an Indian-made rifle from 1950. What I note as curious is the use of a crown after Independence in 1947. Maybe they were just used to doing that all along, and saw no reason to change. The English characters on the tag suggest this was sold out of service and possibly identified as a club rifle or commercial inventory. Think industrial guard. Someone smarter than me with have to help with the letter stamps and symbols on the butt.
- Location
- WMU248 near Edmonton
issued to Dutch colonies
I need to get out my books again
I need to get out my books again
What I note as curious is the use of a crown after Independence in 1947. Maybe they were just used to doing that all along, and saw no reason to change. The English characters on the tag suggest this was sold out of service and possibly identified as a club rifle or commercial inventory. Think industrial guard. Some
India did not become a republic and had Dominion status with GRI VI as head of state for a few years after independance.
Tag shows that this one the arms acquired by Dutch East Indies/Indonesia.
Same tag appears on P14 rifles.
India did not become a republic and had Dominion status with GRI VI as head of state for a few years after independance.
Tag shows that this one the arms acquired by Dutch East Indies/Indonesia.
Same tag appears on P14 rifles.
maple_leaf_eh
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
That makes sense. The world tends to ignore the history on the Indian subcontinent to its peril. India is going to outpace China for population, for energy consumption, for food production and a whole range of other measurables. The last century saw tremendous political upheavals, mass migrations, genocides, slaughters and a number of sharp but short wars with its neighbours. And at the same time, India has to be as stable or better than those neighbours in peacetime for economic and political influence.
^^ I agree with m l e on that. India is the sleeping giant. I recently watched a documentary about a huge railway station and all its workings. The overall manager of the whole thing seemed unflappable. Let's hope India can stay the course of progress.
Similar conversation here:
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...040-GRI-1951-No-1-Mk3-Surmounted-with-a-Crown
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...040-GRI-1951-No-1-Mk3-Surmounted-with-a-Crown
- Location
- Western Manitoba
Is as if the OP's rifle was made right at a transition time - King George VI (of England) was King, and also last Emperor, of India - as per Wikipedia: "Military rifles manufactured at Ishapore 1949 and pre-1949 are stamped "GRI" on the butt socket, referring to George Rex, Imperator (i.e. King George VI, last Emperor of India), whilst military rifles manufactured 1949 and post-1948 are stamped "RFI", which stands for Rifle Factory, Ishapore."
So OP's rifle, with both "GRI" and "1950" - is for sure a bit unusual - is not matching to what Wikipedia says ...
I am sure that the "No. 1" part was a designation created in Britain circa 1920's - I am not real sure when the change was made from Mark III (Mk. III) to Mark 3 (Mk. 3), but I think they mean the same thing? That designation change - when the SMLE became "No. 1", was also when P14 became the "No. 3" and so on.
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Production of the MkIII* was authorised for Ishapore by ILC 8858 26 Sept 1916.
The number designation for small arms was introduced in Britain in 1926.
Ishapre rifles were stamped with the number designation from at least 1942.
From "India's Enfields" Edwards
The number designation for small arms was introduced in Britain in 1926.
Ishapre rifles were stamped with the number designation from at least 1942.
From "India's Enfields" Edwards
