G.R.I. 1943 No1 Mk3 (GSA) -- help ID'ing markings
Printed From: Enfield-Rifles.com
Category: Enfields
Forum Name: Ishapore Enfields
Forum Description: Let's see those Indian Enfields!
URL: http://www.enfield-rifles.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=12826
Printed Date: March 26 2026 at 8:45pm
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Topic: G.R.I. 1943 No1 Mk3 (GSA) -- help ID'ing markings
Posted By: Wallaceforce
Subject: G.R.I. 1943 No1 Mk3 (GSA) -- help ID'ing markings
Date Posted: September 07 2023 at 3:41am
Just joined this forum and have already learned quite a bit just by browsing the topics. For instance, it seems Golden State Arms refurbished various portions of some post-war rifles including this one so I know it isn't original. Further, it seems the marking "GRI" signifies a British India origin of manufacture. Also, it seems "BNP" next to the Crown signifies that this weapon was in use by the British military and was tested according to the Birmingham Nitro Proof standard. However, I am still unsure as to what many of these other markings signify (I know there is a pdf floating around that explains many markings but I don't have it) so I have included images of all markings that I could find. Thanks in advance for help identifying these to better understand the history of this specific rifle.                 ------------- “In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” |
Replies:
Posted By: Goosic
Date Posted: September 07 2023 at 5:33pm
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If it was made by Golden State Arms Santa Fe Division, it would say so on the barrel. The rear sight came from a No4Mk1 and then someone fit it to your No1Mk111* as well as cobbing a No4 handguard to the No1 forend. For the new comers here. Golden State Arms Santa Fe Division would never have made the rifle you have. Their "Jungle Carbine" rifles were shortened No4's. The Gibbs Rifle Co. made a Jungle Carbine from 2A and 2A1 Ishapore rifles. The BNP along with the ENGLAND stamp were part of the sold out if service criteria. Somewhere else on that rifle you should have .303 2.222" 18.5 Tons Per □" as well. BNP or Birmingham Proofhouse was the entities that pressure tested the rifle prior to it being sold out of service...
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Posted By: A square 10
Date Posted: September 07 2023 at 7:32pm
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this has been messed about with a good bit as goosic pointed out , not unusual in the era of sante fe and a couple others but its so far from original at this point not much we can share past IDing the origins of parts as goosic did for you , the only mkIII type that was shortened like that was the austrailian no6 and there were so few of them they are one of the holy grail of enfields , the other no5 type rifles were made by FAZ and BSA , they were based on the no4 platform , ishy made nothing like these at all
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Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: September 08 2023 at 8:43am
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A lot of them are inspectors stamps, there were many of them, & their names & info like what they inspected, or who they were is lost to history. Then you have the "No#" stamps. Those identified the model (version) of the component, which could be very different from the overall Number, or Mark of the actual rifle, just to be confusing! You could have a No1 cocking piece fitted to a No4 rifle with No2 sights & its perfectly fine!   ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: Wallaceforce
Date Posted: September 12 2023 at 1:43am
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Thanks to all three of you for the info. Apologies, I should have been more specific - the barrel of this rifle has the usual Golden State Arms etc. wording on the barrel that I've seen on others from them so I'm guessing they were the ones that refurbished this No1Mk3 rifle using lots of No4 parts as you suggest. Seems like this one is a bit more of a Frankenstein than others I've seen... Does the 'GRI' insignia denote an Indian-based origin of manufacture? I thought I saw that in another post...
 ------------- “In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” |
Posted By: A square 10
Date Posted: September 12 2023 at 8:16pm
| yes . the GRI would indicate the receiver was original mfgr in india , |