Actually the Brits sold the equipment to make the SMLE to the Indian Ishapore Arsenal, who then updated the design to chamber the then Brit standard 7.62mm cartridge.
Those aren't just vintage Enfields rechambered. They were made from the ground up from modern steel after a rather extensive design and testing process.
Believe it or not the Ishapore Enfield is available for sale here in the US for less than $200.00 or so a copy. I've got a couple of them. It's a damned effective rifle, and it's wicked accurate.
The iron sights on mine are graduate out to 800 meters, and I've had no trouble hitting center mass sized targets at 400 yards.
The problem in Mumbai wasn't the rifles the Indians were carrying. It was the lack of an effective doctrine and training.
I'll further go out on a limb and bet that not one of those Indian cops you saw with those rifles had more than 10 rounds of ammunition. I wouldn't be surprised to find out that they had no ammunition at all.
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Are these bolt action rifles single shot or do that have a small magazine/clip? I’ve seen bolt actions worked pretty fast by some folks.
“Believe it or not the Ishapore Enfield is available for sale here in the US for less than $200.00 or so a copy. I’ve got a couple of them. It’s a damned effective rifle, and it’s wicked accurate.”
I own one as well and I own the bayonet too, I built my first bayonet dummy when I was about 10 or 11 and I owned an old Mauser, it was very long and heavy for me at the time but I love the bayonet.
Those aren't just vintage Enfields rechambered. They were made from the ground up from modern steel after a rather extensive design and testing process.
Those are fine rifles. Slick as snot and good barrels too. Now I need one. They just aren't automatic, though. Even though the AK is 60 years old, that pattern is still the world standard for raising hell, cost effectively. Besides, in countries like India regular street cops are civilians, and not necesssarily trusted with modern weapons and training. Too many of them and their loyalty can't be guaranteed. Remember Indira Gandhi. I also doubt they had ammo. Most of them just had bamboo batons. The arms, of whatever type, are mainly symbolic, like a badge. The British culture.
Since I'm left-handed, I wasn't too interested in any of the old Enfields, Mausers, or Mosin-Nagants I sold back then, but I kick myself for not picking up more than the few I did purchase while I had the chance.