[runner]

I was waiting to post this rifle until I was finished cleaning it and repairing the stock. But due to interest in previous threads on factory markings I will put it up now and add pictures when it is finished.
Can anyone ID the Chinese Characters?

The bottom of the shows on a "6" The rear sight shows the only clear A in a complete box. Other A markings exist, but lightly struck and it is difficult to tell if they were in a complete box or not.

Note the circle with 3 extended lines on one side of the lower receiver, a punch mark on the other.

My camera skills and equipment leave much to be desired, but this rifle is rough and even in hand some markings are hard to make out.

 

[runner]

More pictures

 

[runner]

Last ones

 

[Firearms]

It said "Keep and Utilize".

 

[runner]

Thank you, is that the marking in red, or the markings stamped into the stock?

It said "Keep and Utilize".

 

[geladen]

Thank you, is that the marking in red, or the markings stamped into the stock?

Thanks for posting, that's an interesting rifle. Definitely been there and done that.

The "keep and utilize" is the stock stamp.

Your letter in a square marks are pre WWII inspection marks. When properly stamped all four sides of the square will show.

I had a question about the post WWII number in a square inspection marks. It was claimed that the number indicated a year and the missing side of the square indicated the quarter. I'm courious to see if anyone can find a post WWII number in a square inspection mark that has all four sides of the square present.

The photo is my Chinese FN1930.

Regards,
Bill

 

[runner]

Bill,
any thoughts as to the 6 on the bottom of the receiver flat? Or the circle with the 3 lines extending from it?
A pure guess would be the 6 is for 1936, as this rifle probably dates from that period when FN was selling thousands of 8mm rifles to China.
Could just as easily be a random assembly mark or ID of an inspector.

 

[geladen]

The 6 is probably some kind of inspection mark. Most receivers have a variety of strange markings on the bottom and Polish rifles take the prize for having the most "lucky charms".

The circle with three (or four) lines is unusual. It must have meant something to FN but it means nothing to me.

Regards,
Bill

 

[runner]

Got it back together today, All the major parts are FN except the bolt which is Chinese, and all matching except for an un-numbered CZ firing pin. The hand guard has been adapted from a different model, and does not let the rear sight go all the way down. Bore is rough and dark, but has quite a bit of rifling left.

 

[geladen]

Looks better now. The various bolts were all mixed up in the Chinese Mausers. I think I had to buy a Chiang Kai Shek rifle to get an FN bolt for my Chinese FN1930, then I sold the CKS.

Regards,
Bill