My Ishapore 2A 1964 Rifle is finally back from the gunworks

C

christcl

Joined
Apr 13, 2004
Messages
438
After almost a year being professionally refinished, cleaned, and cerakoted...

I didnt think it could be done but she almost almost looks like an American M1A rifle now on the racks.

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Plus alittle Yek Chuirra cameo.

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All metal, including the bolt got refinished. I actually wanted the bolt to remain the metallic silver finish as original but they went ahead and coated it.

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The important details like the imprints were successfully saved.

I'm not really planning to do much shooting with this. 308 is expensive and I already do other hobbies instead, but this is the only vintage rifle I've kept.
 
Beautiful work! Great firearm, I received one new in the cosmoline about 20 years ago when they first brought them in. I was an FFL dealer and picked the cream of the crop from those that came through the shop. I can unequivocally say, yours looks much, much nicer. I have a penchant for the British Enfield with their cocking on closing. I put many a bragger to shame at 100 yards with a No4 MK2, them using semi-autos or modern bolt guns with scopes on 100 yard gongs. The .303 is a joy to shoot although, the .308 in the heavy Ishapore is equally enjoyable. Great job, great fun, way cool!
 
Thanks Bigbore! Well, it looks great after almost 11 months in the workshop and costing more than what I paid for the gun itself, but I think its worth it.

20 years ago, ah, was the golden age of curio and relics surplus firearms and ammo from what I heard.

I started late in the game, 2008 when I got my CR license and by then it was the twilight of curios and relics.

I had several mausers, brnos, and this one but only this one is left. Cock on closing, 10 round detachable magazine, and most importantly, fires a modern service round so it can be called back into use if needed in a jiffy!
 
Agree on all counts. Almost everybody knocks the cock on closing, you can't even come close with a cock on opening rifle putting rounds quickly with adequate battlefield accuracy down range. Yes, I was lucky coming up in the era I did, those before me even luckier. I remember being able to mail order anything you'd like firearms wise out of the Sears catalogue, choosing through actual barrels full of P-38's any Lugers at the neighborhood gun shop. Literally, pallets stocked high with military surplus rifles from around the world. My first Colt U.S. issue 1911 WWI issue all matching like new was $29.00. If only, I still had half I owned at one time or another, I'd be on easy street ergo the reason they state hindsight is 20/20. Enjoy that fine rifle young man, don't let it go anytime soon.
 
Beautiful rifle. Well done! Did you have to have any new parts made or did they all clean up? I wanted to get one of the Henri Martinis but its a crap shoot getting one with all the parts. Let us know how she shoots.
 
Bigbore577 said:
Agree on all counts. Almost everybody knocks the cock on closing, you can't even come close with a cock on opening rifle putting rounds quickly with adequate battlefield accuracy down range. Yes, I was lucky coming up in the era I did, those before me even luckier. I remember being able to mail order anything you'd like firearms wise out of the Sears catalogue, choosing through actual barrels full of P-38's any Lugers at the neighborhood gun shop. Literally, pallets stocked high with military surplus rifles from around the world. My first Colt U.S. issue 1911 WWI issue all matching like new was $29.00. If only, I still had half I owned at one time or another, I'd be on easy street ergo the reason they state hindsight is 20/20. Enjoy that fine rifle young man, don't let it go anytime soon.
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Buy cheap and stack it deep.

Yup, I have to chuckle when the folks who don't hand load or play around with reloading tell me that it can't handle big heavy custom loads and is weaker than a Mauser or Mosin since it doesn't have forward locking lugs. It doesn't really make a difference for a casual shooter or collector.

I've fired it before several times, less than 60 rounds total, and its quite impressive.


ndoghouse said:
Beautiful rifle. Well done! Did you have to have any new parts made or did they all clean up? I wanted to get one of the Henri Martinis but its a crap shoot getting one with all the parts. Let us know how she shoots.
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All original parts, just asked the gunsmith to refinish the metal and wood.

We took this clip last year before it got sent in to be refinished.

[video=youtube;WosG5WRRib8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WosG5WRRib8[/video]
 
Nice clip, thanks for sharing. Yeppers, don't listen to the naysayers, the world is full of them and a vast marority know nothing of what they speak. You could get a more intelligent conversation from a sock puppet. Heavy loads? Who gives a rats arse? Not strong enough? LOL! Front locking lugs? Pisssh! Could their rigs out do yours for what it was designed for? Doubtfully. Again, my $69.00 Enfield put so many pompous expensive rig owners to shame it's laughable. Now, I'm not claiming it's the best rifle since sliced bread, of course not. For a mass produced bolt action battle rifle the design and performane are hard to beat. Keep your powder dry.
 
Bigbore577 said:
Nice clip, thanks for sharing. Yeppers, don't listen to the naysayers, the world is full of them and a vast marority know nothing of what they speak. You could get a more intelligent conversation from a sock puppet. Heavy loads? Who gives a rats arse? Not strong enough? LOL! Front locking lugs? Pisssh! Could their rigs out do yours for what it was designed for? Doubtfully. Again, my $69.00 Enfield put so many pompous expensive rig owners to shame it's laughable. Now, I'm not claiming it's the best rifle since sliced bread, of course not. For a mass produced bolt action battle rifle the design and performane are hard to beat. Keep your powder dry.
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I have my fairshare of modern toys that go obsolete every year since new fancy gadgets that don't change how the gun works come out every year.

There is something very liberating about those old battle rifles that work fine as is, no changes. Stays classy.

Its also very interesting that these were made in India and mass produced as a bolt action rifle in a time when semi automatic and fully automatic rifles were already becoming standard regular weapons.

The dealer who sold it to me remarked it might have been carried anywhere and everywhere in the Himalayas.
 
Ah, youth!

Imagine, once you could buy anything you wanted. No restrictions except on full auto. Only three day's pay as a retail clerk for a M 1917.

 
Undoubtedly there is a mystique with old battle firearms, at least for me. I tried through the years to experience all I could but, time alone precludes one from doing anything but scratch the surface. In my hayday I was loading for 78 seperate cartridges, modern, wildcat and obsolete. A good portion were for military weapons of yore. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would do it all over again, given the opportunity.
 
Thomas, those were the days. I grew up not far from Klein's. I think it may have played part in starting and fueling my addiction! I wish I could have experienced Bannerman's in it's hayday as well.
 
:thumbup:

I like looking at old battle rifles now but going forward, I'm only shooting modern...mainly 12G, 5.56.
 
I do as well. A lot more shotguns nowadays. I love trap, skeet and sporting clays. Also, a lot of .45acp for bullseye competitions. I have them but, 5.56 does not excite me much no matter what platform. All told, I still enjoy the .22LR above all else. Cheap, fun, easy to shoot and no better way to hone one's skill with hardly denting the wallet compared to centerfire, handloader or not.
 
My go to gun for HD and the only one I go to class with is the shotgun. Shooting clays was my favorite until I got into Chinese archery.

5.56 never quite excited me all that much, but building and redoing ARs each year is fun. I have a friend who I can count on to research all the latest and greatest, including having the best tools and setup for building at home.

Plus my fiance only likes to shoot 5.56 so I keep that stocked for her.
 
You're a good man. It seems we have a lot in common albeit generations apart. We agree on many issues, even that the 5.56 is great, especially for ladies! ;^ )
(Just stirring the pot, the 5.56 is a fine cartridge within it's limitations.)
 
that rifle and kukri" are really nice..that rifle turned out great,gets my blood boiling for an old mil surp..
 
Bigbore577 said:
You're a good man. It seems we have a lot in common albeit generations apart. We agree on many issues, even that the 5.56 is great, especially for ladies! ;^ )
(Just stirring the pot, the 5.56 is a fine cartridge within it's limitations.)
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The overwhelming opinion I get from my friends who've served and seen combat with it is pretty much summed up as "It gets the job done" =)

.308/7.62 on the other hand, even to a sheltered civilian like me, feels like a world of hurt hehe
 
bargs said:
that rifle and kukri" are really nice..that rifle turned out great,gets my blood boiling for an old mil surp..
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They go well together.

Alot of good milsurps out there now in private collections, but I think the Enfield style rifles have a certain classic and battle field aura presence unmatched by the other rifles.
 
Very nice rifle! Glad you had it rebuilt. This is what I'm rebuilding at the moment. Top one in the pic. An Afghan Kabul arsenal Martini-Henry modified for an Afghan war lord.
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