Reason for bolt handle being sow low?

[Fred]

I've an Ishapore whose bolt handle is bent lower then any other Enfield I've ever seen. The metal of the handle under the shaft has been ground down a bit to assist in it's fit. There are stamps under the handle though which indicate that the job was done in an armory. It's still very easy to catch the handle and lift. Has anyone ever seen this before? Here're some pictures...

[JB White]

The bolt handle can only travel in rotation as far as the rib and locking lug will allow.

[Fred]

Yes...that I know. So, when the bolt is seated, the knob is virtually against the butt socket as opposed to having a bit more space between it like on other Enfields. So, this makes for a slightly more compact feature on this rifle. Has anyone seen another like it? I wonder what the purpose was.

[Thunderbox]

Yes...that I know. So, when the bolt is seated, the knob is virtually against the butt socket as opposed to having a bit more space between it like on other Enfields. So, this makes for a slightly more compact feature on this rifle. Has anyone seen another like it? I wonder what the purpose was.

The ground part at the top of the handle is normal - at least it looks to be the same depth as on other SMLE bolts. The handle itself is bent downward - probably done by a previous owner who thought it looked better that way.

Unlikely to be an official modification. Even the flat handle of old cavalry carbines was abandoned as unnecessary and an impediment to rapid fire - all No1s issued to later cavalry formations had normal bolts.

[Fred]

Ahhh..there's the rub. The ground part has more then the usual amout of metal taken out, I noticed it before compared to all other SMLE's and Mk IV's I've seen. I'm not convinced that it's a job done by a previous owner. The rifle came out of a batch imported directly into this country from Inja. I've been the only and first owner. Of course it's easier for me to hold it and study it closely than anyone else. Rather difficult for one to assess what's going on from just a few fuzzy pictures. My apologies. If it is an armory job, I wonder why and how many were altered like this? I've a friend I'm seeing this coming Monday who might have some insight in this matter. I certainly haven't an inkling. I wonder though, when the mounted rifle units were active in India. The rifle's bore looks mint and mirror bright with all edges sharp as the day it was put together. The stock is mahogany I believe but it looks like it could be walnut. No...it's gotta be mahogany. The magazine matches in number to the rest of the rifle. The magazine well is ported out in the old fassion way to accept a number 2 or a number 3 magazine with the external, riveted clip at the top, right. The wood inside isn't inletted though

[RJW-NZ]

I have seen this mod done on the bolt handles of early enfield target rifles, even had one here. Why, I dunno.

[Fred]

Thankyou. That's interesting. Another funny thing about this is the rack number of the rifle, 21, painted in small, white numbers on the stock, is also lightly engraved on the left side of the charger guide in the early type form of writing. I haven''t looked for it elsewhere. when it gets lighter, I'll take it outside and post a couple of pictures with the post. I'll look carefully on the bolt too.