Old HW still in active service.

[Rayleigh_Scattering]

This is from a BBC article about rangers in an Indian park.

Look at the fancy new gear these fellows have to work with.

That trigger guard looks like a MkIII's, but the magazine looks like a MkIV.

Can any of you wise folks make a call either way?

 

[green]

That is No1 rifle (SMLE MkIII) from the buttplate which has the butt trap hinge pins visible, the reddish copper colour on the yellow brass.
Also full length rib on mag is visible.

 

[Rayleigh_Scattering]

Minimum 60 years old, then.

And still in use.

 

[kawicrash]

They don't look like 7.62 mags, so probably not 2A1's, and the brass buttplate is probably pretty old.

 

[green]

Ishapore made No1 rifles as late as 1988.

 

[Grizzly Adams]

Reminds me of a quote I read, Indians apparently never discard any small arms.

Grizz

 

[shredder]

I don't think Ishapore ever did make No4 Mk1 Enfield - they pretty much kept making the No1 MkIII and III* right on up until they quit making Enfield, didn't they?

Besides, our Canadian Rangers only had their No4's slated for replacement recently (have any of the new rifles been issued yet?).

 

[Sharps '63]

My lawyer has a painting done from a photo he took in Africa on a photo safari. It shows a Park Ranger posing with his SMLE between a mother black rhino and her calf as they were hunkered down for a rest. Judging by proportion, the Ranger was a Bushman as the SMLE looks slightly larger than life.

He said that the rangers regularly shoot and kill poachers who are armed with AK 47s they use to poach game in the park.

 

[QM 8687]

I say thumbs up! #1 Mk III Lee Enfields will be around for centuries to come.

 

[zuke]

If it ain't broke........