308 Enfield info help

[Andrew Blubaugh]

I have this 308 Enfield, purchase several years ago on impulse. I have looked over a hand full of other sites trying to find out a bit more history and value of what I have. All the serial numbers are matching and I can not find any typical import marks like some rifles have something stamped saying it is from India and a NY import company name.

The rifle has a redish tint to the finish.

Mark on the stock is an SA with an arrow pointing up separating the two letters.

A mark I found on several parts near the serial numbers looks like crossed flags.

Let me know what you think or if there are any other identifying marks hidden on the rifle I should be looking for.

 

[Joop]

Re: 308 Enfield info help

Looks like an Ishapore 2A or 2A1 (what does the rear sight go up to? The 2A I believe is 2000 yards and the 2A1 is 800 meters). Sometimes, the import marks can be lightly struck or in places that are not easy to see. As for value, I recently bought one and was shopping around for them. I think that what you have posted is probably in the $250-$275 range. However, I've seen people paying more than they should recently, as with all Enfields.

 

[Andrew Blubaugh]

Re: 308 Enfield info help

Joop, It goes to 800 so I would call this a Enfield Ishapore 2A1. Thanks for the info, seems like you are always answering my vintage rifle questions.

 

[Joop]

Re: 308 Enfield info help

No problem.

I should also add (in case you haven't read it, yet) that the 2A/2A1 rifles were built as 7.62 rifles and NOT converted from .303, as some would have you believe. The Indians did a lot of terrible things to a lot of nice guns which were given to them as surplus and basically ended up "rode hard and put away wet". Unfortunately, this has given all of them a bad name. The truth, however, is that the 2A rifles are actually well built and quite strong. They may have been covered in black paint (I think it's some type of fetish with them, given how thick it can be! LOL), but they're still great shooters. The problem areas are usually going to be in the magazine. The lips may need some tweaking to get it to feed right (mine did) and the fact that they can be packed with grease/dirt and need to be cleaned. Also, as with all the No.I pattern rifles, the screw tension at the various points in the forend are very important to getting the best accuracy from them. I've found that mine can go from near MOA to 4 MOA, just by a half turn of a single screw. When dialed in, however, they're shockingly accurate.

John

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: 308 Enfield info help

I sold mine and regret it. I tried a few rounds between stages at an F Class match a 1000yd with 175gr handloads. The recoil was impressive and I still don't know where the rounds ended up. All that aside, I'd still love to have My Ole Ishy back.

Greg