Ishapore SMLE MkI** India Pattern 

I had shot this rifle a few times when I was a cadet, As of now, no security agencies in India is using this rifle anymore except for a few State Home Guard units ( Not state police). This rifle is rare even in India now. May I mention that in the late 90's A homeguardsman of the Assam Home Guards armed with this rifle, killed three and wounded two insurgents armed with AK's. He survived to tell the tale.

Its a beautiful gun. This gun is still used in remote corners of the country. The Ishapore Rifle factory is 20mins drive from my house. Thanks for making such an informative video..

it's rare to see a rifle made from my country in U.S.

Back in the 70's I picked up one of these and had a big shock. It weighted about half of what I was expecting. The stock was poplar. The hardware was aluminum (and looked like brass). And the barrel was lathed down and sleeved back to size with aluminum. The gentleman who had it, told me it was an honor guard rifle.

As a 2A1 owner, I'm super excited to hear that we'll revisit Ishapore Enfields.

I love my Ishapore 2A1. Such a sweet shooting rifle.

Britian would have been pretty screwed without India without during ww1 and 2.

I'm still SM(i)LE(ing).

I love the darker finish along with the little circular plate on the stock

"India lacked workforce" Oh, how the turntables...

Love me a NATO Ishapore. Thanks for the video Ian!

I will obtain one of those 7.62 Ishapore Enfields made to look like a jungle carbine someday. Then I will just pull it out and let my friends suffer from it all they can stand. I have a 2007 Indian made Royal Enfield Bullet 500 BTW. MOtorcycle, duh. It is a fine bike. Never has leaked, is as reliable as a 1953 era design can be as long as you do your regular (and frequent) servicing. It does seep a tiny bit around the barrel. Point being, I am not afraid of Indian made machines. ( 80's thru 90's bikes were a nightmare as the old tooling wore out, I will concede that.)

Holy shit, I didn't knew about the .308 indian lee enfields, need one NOW >_< !

Ishapore is very close to where I right now.it is the next town from where I am. I have been through the front of ishapore rifle factory many times

Hey Ian! I've been watching forgotten weapons for quite some time now, and I know others are probably said this but I'll say it myself. the work work you do is absolutely fantastic, I find it is a very valuable source for very obscure knowledge pertaining to firearms. Please keep up the good work, I will always enjoy these videos!

I have a 1949 Ishapore No 3 and it is of excellent quality.

the bayonet's length was designed to make up for the shorter length of the rifle...the 'S' in SMLE stood for 'short' meaning the overall length of the rifle...it was 'short' compared to the Lee-Metford which it replaced...during tests the troops allegedly missed the reach of the longer rifle as compared to the new, shorter rifle and the longer bayonet was designed to compensate for the lack of 'reach'. The *', pronounced 'star', designated the absence of the magazine cutoff. By the end of the first year of the Great War the uselessness of the cutoff became glaringly apparent, so in January of 1916 it was officially dispensed with (IIRC the date was 16 Jan 16)and after that date no more were produced with that piece of sheet metal...it made production easier, quicker and less expensive....in fact even before the official elimination of the cutoff, armorers were removing them as they came into the British version of Depot Maintenance. I personally own a MkIII* that was converted back to a MkIII (the star has been struck out) with the cutoff replaced. It was part of a lot given to the Austrian border police (surreptitiously) during the last days of the British occupation post-WWII. The Brits were way ahead of the curve, expecting Soviet shenanigans. and armed the Austrians in their zone of occupation, prior to the withdrawal of the four occupying powers from Austria...that country was the ONLY country which the Soviets willing left without first installing a puppet government or fomenting a violent revolution...On the Knox form is a stamp reading Osterreich Gendarmerie...

It's interesting that this rifle is 1909 because my friends Mk1 SMLE is 1909 and is almost identical to that apart from his has a moving stripper clip guide and a magazine cutoff.

Wait the stars are part of the designation? Jesus Christ

Fact. 303 is still in service in state police departments and for training to new army and police recruits..its very very famous here india even a small child knows about this legendary rifile..ishapore 303

Great video, super informative and helpful. Thank you!!!

Ian do you know if all these Indian rifles were used by Indian troops only or were they used by other commonwealth soldiers? I have a nice condition 1908 Ishapore like this one and im in New Zealand.

Rather than Shortage of Skilled Laborer / lack of mechanical Knowledge It was the insecurity of the Brits to teach us technology. Mind you Rockets were first used in India for warfare. Which was taken back by Brits for Anglo-French war

My first SMLE was an ishapore arsenal .303 rifle, and i still have it. The front ears are more geometric and square, but otherwise it matches most wW1 period rifles except for an excessively blonde stock. shoots very well.

The best channel on YT. I always learn something new and interesting. Keep up the great work.

I have a late production Ishapore No.1 Mk.III from 1952. They are beater rifles that never saw a day of proper care in their lives but they are solid rifles through and through.

Just got a 2A1, I'm pretty excited for it to arrive. I love my Savage US PROPERTY No.4 Mk I and I'm excited to have this piece of history, in a caliber that's easier to find. In Afghanistan we recovered a No.4 Mk.1 off some Taliban dudes, I tried so hard to take it back but I couldn't. Great video, I'd love to see a video on the Ishapore 2A and 2A1 specifically, that'd be awesome. If you ever have a lot with some Ishapore Enfields, that'd be awesome to do a vid on them, thanks!

Thanks for the content Ian. I have one of those Ishapor 2a1 and I LOVE it! Very interesting to see an Indian made .303 enfield.

My great uncle may have used one of these rifles, or not. He was an English man in an Irish Regiment (Inniskilling Dragoons) which was part of the Indian Army at the time!! Unfortunately his was in the battle of the Somme and didn't make it home.

There is video footage from the Mumbai massacre which showed how obsolete the SMLE (or any bolt action rifle) is against the AK-47. An Indian policeman fires one shot from his SMLE at the terrorists armed with AK-47s, and then is forced to take cover from automatic gunfire behind a corner. All the policeman could do after that was throw a plastic chair around the corner, helplessly contained.

No magazine cutoff, ahead of their time.

I had an Ishapore 1920 a few monthes ago I sold for $250. It looked like it had been in a fire a long time ago. Also had a large spot chipped off the front top of the buttstock. Kind've regret selling it.

My girlfriend bought me one of these mfg 1968 for 99.00 bucks in 1998. We got married a few years later had a couple of kids and are still hanging out together. We need to get that weapon out of the safe and go shoot it. Excellent rifle. Great wife.

Curently a new type of infield is in production in indian ordinace factories known as .315 bolt action rifle (8 mm) for civilians which is enfields using 8 mm ball ammo.

I ordered an Ishapore in 1999 from Shotgun News Navy Arms for $90. I put a FAC scope mount on it. It got good groups with steel case 308 surplus.

Awww, this one looks exactly like the 1918 dated production SMLE for kingdom of Siam, which I had pleasure to handle year ago. The wood stock's color was exactly same gorgeous dark walnut.

I remember when SMLE was something you could pick up for next to nothing. I wish I would have picked one up then! But in a way, their price at the time was so low that it made you wonder what the heck was wrong with it. But a buddy bought one and it was a fine rifle. A far as it's chambering, there is nothing wrong at all with .303. I think we get caught up in the macho aspects of the bigger is better. I shot my buddy's SMLE across a canyon, guessing three hundred yards or so and split big rocks with it, once I figured out where to hold, (I doubt he even knew how to zero a rifle) I think that is more than plenty enough accuracy and power.

"The first thing to remember: There's no substitute for cold steel. They do not like it up 'em, they DON'T LIKE IT UP 'EM": ―Lance Corporal Jack Jones. !2 inches is probably enough too.

Ahh yes, the three not three rifle.... I keep hearing the name,offcourse from the vets of the 1962 Sino Indian war, One vet said,"Chinese military came at us with SKS and the Ak47(type 56,Indian guys call it Ak56) while we had the three not three as our primary battle rifle, most of the time they ambushed us and most of the time I had to rely on a Bren to save my life". Just after the war Indian army adopted the SLR(FN FAL).

Ian - Great video as always. Interesting to note that the markings on the receiver indicate that it was stamped 'G.R.', presumably denoting, as you point out, shorthand for 'George Rex'. However, if the rifle was manufactured in that original batch posited, I.e. between 1908 - 1909, the monarch would have been Edward VII, who reigned until 1910. Just wondered if you had any thoughts and apologies if has been previously pointed out.

I have a 1962 Ishapore No.1 Mk. III but it's chambered for British.303

Ian please review and have a look at other made in India weapons too, like insas rifle and LMG, Indian version of sterling 9mm carbine, Webley inspired revolvers chambered in .32 and .22, Indian SLR ( FN FAL) ,Indian version of browning high power 9mm, Indian made Bren LMG etc...

Build the skill into the machine--the production engineer's mantra.

Got a 1968 2A1 jungle carbine in 7.62

No wonder I haven't been getting notifications, RU-vid unsubed me! This is one of my favorite channels

Ian acts like the British Indian Army was somehow independent of Britain and the overall Imperial system, whereas it was mainly run by British officers who would make the decisions regarding logistics etc.

Welcome to another episode of Forgotten Lee-Enfields! :)

The SMLE cocks on closing the bolt. This particular rifle is cocked. It can be de-cocked, thereby relieving the stress on the firing pin spring by either pressing the trigger as you close the bolt on an empty chamber, or by lowering the firing pin by hand on an empty chamber while squeezing the trigger. All the while making sure the rifle is pointed in a safe direction. A cocked SMLE action always raises the red flag for me. Excellent review as usual.

The 'India Pattern' designation has some serious heritage - going back to the Brown Bess musket in favour at the time of Waterloo.

You can feel the Indian-ness from the screen. You can smell it, you can feel it.

India Pattern Rifles are quite well known!🤔👳🔫🇮🇳

The 1907-pattern British 16" bayonet was practically a short sword attached to the rifle.. Like carrying a lance that also works as a rifle.. :D

Thanks Sir. We in India also don't know the things you described here. It's kinda culture in India that if you allow people to know stuff, they'll kinda use it for themselves and for insurrection.. Govt is sceptical of this.. This is what it is in India..

the only thing I don't like about this channel is the guns never get fired. besides that I love the content and seeing all these cool and historic weapons

Thanks for this video Ian. I really love the SMLE.

That's why I love British markings! They're so unique!

this rifle is still in Indian police force service..

Ian - "I want to take a moment and touch on this bayonet..." - proceeds to poke it....

2020 may 7, and Still a service rifle carried by the Indian Home guards , guarding government banks, police officers residence etc , the only original Lee Enfield 303 service rifle still in service , I suppose

British or India it is cool

I had to google the word Elucidate. I just increased my vocabulary by 1 word. Good video. Thanks.

Hey My special requests for displaying an INSAS Rifle please do it

I really like the fact that this SMLE has a darker wood colour.

Note the "I" is found only on the Indian rifgles....the "I" stood for "Imperator"...Emperor...British rifles bear thew initial G R Georgius Rex - George the King.

The rifle factory is still operational in Ishapore or Ichapore as its now called .

Still waiting for INSAS in this channel

A slight error in there - the 1926 LoC entry that created the Rifle No. 1 designation specifically excluded Marks I, II ConD, and IV ConD. As such, there is no Rifle, No. 1 Mk. I.

I have that rifles twin. It has been converted to a copy jungle carbine but has all the old original early Ishapor mark 1 markings. No value, but a cool truck gun.

I had an ishapore SMLE n Number 1 mk III

Ian, do you think you'd ever be able to do a full info-breakdown and disassembly of an INSAS Rifle? That rifle has always fascinated me and I would love to see an in depth breakdown of it

I want to see a "best of" blooper reel for the videos you've done

I'm sorry, but the Indian army is a professional fighting force. Of all colonial combatants in the first and second, we stood out. It's a shame what we've turned our country into.

Looks like a great Rifle!😀👳🔫🇮🇳

There's a problem... George V or G.R.I. in India, didn't ascend the throne until 1910. The Receiver should be marked E.R.I. if it dates to before 1910.

Mauser M98 (Long infantry version) and K98 (Short carbine version) are still better and more reliable as well as more precise. Mauser cartridge is still in use today and therefore easier to get.

I own a 1952 made RFI no 1 mkIII*. Fine rifle.

Just today, I acquired a No.1, Mk3 Ishapore musket dated 1918. It's not the 3* because it has the magazine cutoff slot but the markings are crisp and clear. It's definitely a G.R.I. from 1918 and appears to have seen heavy use as a constabulary musket with a lot of butt stock stamps. I'm thinking the Mk1 you've displayed was faked for some reason... especially because it the royal cypher doesn't read "E.R.I." for Edward VII, who was monarch at the time... a stupid mistake, unless the G was an overstamp of the original E. Still the wrist markings are strangely faint for a rifle in such otherwise good shape.

The world war 2 in real time channel recently covered the Japanese invasion of India. I wonder if there was a large rush at this place to get rifles out as fast as possible. Like they did in the USSR and other countries.

Is the finish on this Indian rifle bluing or is it black paint like the 2A1? I still have an early Enfield with the charging guide on the bolt. Is that worth anything?

G R I- King George as you say. However, the I is from the Latin- Imperatur - emperor no less. He visited India in 1911 for the Delhi Durbar with Queen Mary. I don't know if he had time to visit the rifle factory! Probably he was too busy meeting all the various maharajahs and other dignitaries. I suppose if he wanted to visit a rifle factory, Enfield was more convenient! Anyway, he was a navy man!

I have had 2 of them. One was the original length barrel that I no longer have and the one my dad bought and it has a much shorter barrel. My rifle had a production date of 1959 where as the shorter one has a 1961 date I believe. The only thing I'd after I put 5 or do rounds through it the front pieces of the stock fall off. The main stock has a what appears to be a thick dowel rod in it that helps hold the shorter front lower stock in place along with the barrel band. I have been told that it may have been a experimental rifle but everyone has a opinion and I really haven't looked too hard into it. I just bought a lower main stock on eBay for $8.00 that someone had hacked at it and made a sporter stock. I think it looks horrible but it works and I don't want to take the chance of it coming apart and damaging the original stock parts. I would love to hear s real experts opinion ony rifle. It was my dad's and he paid $117 for it in the late 1990's from our gunsmith. He was always looking for deals on odd or antique firearms for us. I am a turn of the century 1900's small pocket pistol junkie. He had found me several of them that I haven't seen in most of the collector books I have and I have a lot of them. At one point I had about 25 or so of them. Back to the point. If anyone has some credible information on it I would love to hear your opinion. It is one of the most accurate iron sights 7.62x51 rifles that my dad had ever owned and the government taught him how to shoot in 1964 with his M-40. I love the rifle and won't sell it for anything even a straight up trade for a 50 cal rifle.

I love these old rifles

I really appreciate all your detail and insight. Thank you for all you do.

I actually fired this rifle it was very comfortable for me we always have training with this rifle

Well i have heard that they (Ordinance/arms factory ishapore)still produce them but not sure but i am sure thats they are still in service and are used mostly by police , and some other paramilitary forces like BSF and CRPF .

If the rifle was made in 1908 or 1909, the monarch was King Edward VII. Perhaps, the extant initials were added when the rifle was revamped. The crown and GRI stands for Georgius Rex Imperator- King George V - Emperor of India. I find it odd if the rifle was made in Edward's reign why his cipher is not present- suggesting, that this part of the rifle was replaced.

The British Indian Army was in fact held to a higher standard than the British Army from officers to sepoys....excellent military and that continues on after independence.

Another great video, love it!

If i remember right, Ishapore didn't go to the #4 pattern until the 2A in the 60's, right? Because i think those are the only Ishapores i have seen with receiver mounted peep sights. Kudos to them for using better steels in the 2A's also- i heard that years ago. Didn't Lithgow make them in 7.62 also? Great video as always. Thank you

thank you for not bad mouthing us indians.......

But does it take Glock mags?

Can you make a video of the Insas rifle next please????

SMLE rifle is still in use with the law enforcement agencies in india

I'm learning a lot about guns from these videos and also other youtubers, but I am confused as to difference between a short riffle and a carbine, I thought as short rifle was a carbine.

Good info, Thanks.

So do you have a prompter or something behind the camera, or do you just know all this stuff? Theres so many details about these guns im just curious

I'm not sure why but I like this rifle.

Elucidate, Ahhhh Ian the word personifies you.

I'm guessing that the crown "GRI" came from one of the changes, since George V became king with the death of Edward VII, May 6, 1910. Either that, or the manufacture date is slightly off.

The Brits 'chewed up' names of our cities and Places (Like Mumbai became 'Bombay',Vadodara became 'Baroda' etc.). Ian,Though it is written Ishapore,it is pronounced as 'Ichha-pur' not 'Ish-a-pore'.