why the black paint?

[Hecklerusp45]

Does anyone have any idea why this rifle has black paint on it? (Who may have done it? Is it in any way original? It is an Ishapore in .308 from 1965.
The red paint is not the issue right now, just the black over most of the metal. 20190324_182422.jpg

[lyman]

it was called Suncorite when applied in the UK.,
the Indian's tend to use just some form of it that is more like black paint,

it's a rust prohibitor
Ishapore and IIRC , Lithgow painted a lot of Enfields green for the same reason,

[Sunray]

"...it was called Suncorite..." Yep and it was used because it was cheap and quick.
The red paint indicates it's not a .303 Brit rifle. Indicates it's a 7.62/.308. So does the square mag. That is most assuredly not a bad thing. India made 'em out of better quality new steel. They are not 'converted' .303 Brit Mk III's.

[Hecklerusp45]

Thanks for the info guys. That helps a lot. It shoots very well for a $219 flea market find. Also is 100% matching.
20190525_161807.jpg

[p246]

1+ on what was already said. Suncorite was a cheap way to protect the steel. Unfortunately it was very caustic/enviromentally unfriendly and did not survive modern regulations. $219.00 for a good Ishy 2A or 2A1 is a very good price.

[JB White]

I can never recall the Suncorite number they used, but it was also a highly dangerous carcinogen and banned from import/export.
Suncorite products are still available in the US at the industrial level. One which looks the closest but isn't as tough is the coating they use on "black pipe". Commonly seen in commercial fire sprinkler systems.

Good luck getting a pint of that.

[lyman]

I can never recall the Suncorite number they used, but it was also a highly dangerous carcinogen and banned from import/export.
Suncorite products are still available in the US at the industrial level. One which looks the closest but isn't as tough is the coating they use on "black pipe". Commonly seen in commercial fire sprinkler systems.

Good luck getting a pint of that.

so no to the Krylon BBQ Black paint?

[The Armourer]

India made 'em out of better quality new steel. They are not 'converted' .303 Brit Mk III's.

Unfortunately you are perpetuating an internet myth.

The Ishapore factory proof-master (who should know) seems to think otherwise :

Extract from “Gun Digest 33rd Anniversary 1979 Deluxe Edition”
Article Author : Mr A G Harrison
Qualification : Former ‘Proof Master’ of the ‘Rifle Factory Proof House, Ishapore, India’

From 1908 to 1950 all military bolt action rifles made at Ishapore were proof tested with a dry-round, followed with by an oiled proof round. The proof cartridge was loaded to 24 tons psi breech pressure, or 15% higher than the service pressure. In 1950 (after the departure, in 1949, of India from British control) the material for the rifle bodies was altered from an EN steel to SWES 48 steel with the recoil shoulder and cam recesses being heat treated. With this change the rifle receivers distorted when oiled proof cartridges were fired. This was discovered when hard and sometimes impossible bolt retraction was experienced. Large quantities of rifles were rejected.
To avoid rejections the authorities ordered discontinuance of the oiled proof round. Therefore from 1950 to the end of SMLE production, rifles made at Ishapore were proof tested with one dry proof only, although the specification still called for both dry and oiled proof. All bolts and bolt heads issued as spares were always proofed with a dry proof round only.

A bolt action rifle similar to the SMLE MkIII*, modified to fire the 7.62mm NATO cartridge, was produced at Ishapore, first in February 1965. The receivers were made of SWES 48 steel (as per the SMLE MkIII*) and with the NATO proof cartridge the receivers were found to distort with both the dry and oiled proof round. The material was changed back to the EN steel so now the rifles stand up better to dry and oiled proof. After passing proof the barrels are impressed with the Indian national proof stamp. The bolt handles and bolt head claws are struck with the crossed flags only.



To summarise, Ishapore tried to use an 'improved' steel but it created problems and the rifles failed proof testing. When they reverted back to the original SMLE (NO1 MK3) steel specification they past the proof test.


Should you doubt the above you can purchase a copy of the “Gun Digest 33rd Anniversary 1979 Deluxe Edition” on Amazon.