Indian made "Jungle Carbine"

[ofbiro]

It is well known that during WW2, the Small Arms Factory Fazakerley developed a shortened and lightened version of Rifle No. 4, officially named "Rifle No.5 Mk 1", often called "jungle carbine" by the press, specially in the States.
I know that the Australian factory in Lithgow developed a similar rifle, derived from Rifle No 1 as No 4s were produced only in Britain and Canada.
The development took a long time and the Australian lightened/shortened rifle was approved and declared obsolete after the Japanese surrender.
According to "The Lee Enfield Story" by Ian Skennerton, Rifle Factory Ishapore studied a rifle based upon the No1 and similar to the Australian one, but no more details are available to me.
Does anyone in the forum know a bit more about the "Indian jungle carbine?"
Thanks in advance.

[hornet22]

I have had the opportunity to physically see a .303 carbine but it wasn't made in India, since these were not regular issue weapons, so I doubt Ishapore factory ever produced these

[timmy]

ofbiro, I would appreciate whatever you find out about this gun. I have never taken to the No 4 rifles very much, but I do like the No 1 rifles, especially the Ishapore and RFI versions. Such a "jungle carbine" is of interest to me.

I do know that, back when the RFI 2A and 2A1 rifles hit the surplus market, one of the American importers cut them down into a jungle carbine-like format (unfortunately). But if you find any production numbers of the real thing from Ishapore, please share them with us. Thank you.

[ofbiro]

I investigated in the net, finding out (in the Imperial War Museum site) that an American company, namely the Gibbs Rifle Company of Martinsburg W. Virginia produced (better, as the Yanks say, “bubbaed”) this No 7 'Jungle Carbine', which is actually a converted Indian 2A1 rifle. The inscription on the barrel indicates that this rifle was retailed by Navy Arms of Ridgfield New Jersey - a related company of Gibbs.
The original rifle was produced by RFI.
Here follows the IWM text
QUOTE
Description
Physical description
Gibbs Rifle Co No 7 Jungle Carbine, Indian 2A1 rifle with shortened barrel fitted with British No 5 rifle-type flash hider/foresight unit, barrel plugged and bolt-face cut-away. (Component parts: carbine & magazine (12))
History note
Stamped on right of butt socket
[ashoka symbol] over RIFLE over 762mm 2A1 over R.F.I. over 1966
Stamped on backsight leaf
ICR 1559 over R.F.I.
Stamped on right of barrel
N.A: RDGFLD: N.J
Stamped on right of receiver ring & bolt handle
M 5385
Stamped on left of receiver ring & top of receiver ring & top of chamber
Indian proof marks
UNQUOTE
However, I remember that I saw a Indian cop (or was it in Pakistan?) riding on a bike with an Enfield carbine slung across his back.
I wasn't close enough to inspect the action to understand whether it based upon an SMLE Nr. 1 or Nr.4.
Is it worth to get in touch with RFI Public Reations office or is better to harass a Rotweiler?

[timmy]

Ahh, Gibbs!

Check this out:

https://www.americanrifleman.org/conten ... pany-guns/

[timmy]

I was wondering about what might have been produced by RFI as part of its doing projects, and if there was any production of a noteworthy number.

As I have an RFI 2A, I have to admit that cutting them up for the projects Gibbs carried out is not something that I like. They bought the rifles, I admit, and they aren't mine. But, I don't have to like it.