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Old August 11, 2012, 10:18 PM   #3
James K
Member In Memoriam
 
Join Date: March 17, 1999
Posts: 24,383
Unless you can determine exactly what about that rifle cause the DP designation, do not fire it. DP does not necessarily mean the rifle is unsafe. It could mean that it is obsolete, or has obsolete parts, or has a shot out barrel, or is made for non-standard or obsolete ammunition. But until you know, best not to take a chance. If you must fire it, do so in a safe manner.

That rifle is a Short, Magazine Lee-Enfield, aka a Rifle No. 1 Mk 3* made at Rifle Factory Ishapore in 1962. It is in .303 British and is identical except for markings to the British Rifle No. 1 Mk III. Ishapore rifles are well made and have a good collector value among those who collect British Empire weapons. Later on, Ishapore modified the Rifle No. 1 and produced their own Rifle No. 2, made for the 7.62x51 NATO cartridge, for paramililtary units (the Indian army was armed with the Ishapore-made FAL in that caliber).

The inspection and proof marks read "GRI" for "Georgius Rex Imperator" or George, King and Emperor, instead of just "GR" for "Georgius Rex", or King George. Actually, those stamps were long obsolete in 1962. Not only had India become independent in 1947, but George VI had died in 1952; apparently the Indians were in no hurry to change the stamps.

Jim
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