Qpp?

[Olddust]

Good day,
I recently obtained an 1886 MH IV. It. Ow wears a 42 smle barrel and sight, the sight has markings associated with South Africa….
I had hoped some more knowledgeable people could help me decode some of the markings on the butt.
It has several rack numbers and two Cartouches. One I believe to be Ishapore.
The QPP is the odd one. Anyone seen similar?

Information

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[Gil Boyd]

A 1886 Enfield Mk IV Martini-Henry .577 Cal. Rifle.

I would say from previous I have seen:

Q.P.P stamp- stands for QUEBEC PROVINCIAL POLICE with 352 stamp below possibly an Officers collar number
IV - stamp -Mark 4 Rifle
CIRCULAR stamp to the direct left of the IV, I believe says WAR DEPARTMENT with the CROWS FOOT centre
The stamp immediately above the IV would be the ENFIELD with CROWS FOOT and LTD below and faint CROWN stamp above

Enough to be going on with. Let me know if they check out with the provenance for my own interest. Good Luck.

[Daan Kemp]

Right side of the action has been scrubbed? 303 barrel, 1942 vintage? Correct extractor?

[Gil Boyd]

Daan,
Yes saw that Crown E42 stamp, it would appear the rifle has been apart several times looking at the screw actions, I'm fairly confident on the collar numbers as it would appear the same officer got the rifle back and was perhaps the last to be issued with it 1808/8081!!

[Olddust]

Gents, I suspected ishapore for the cartouche directly left of the IV as it appeared to have an I in the middle.
The smle barrel is shown in these pics, stock has original barrel channel and band but is cut down..

[Olddust]

Gents, I suspected ishapore for the cartouche directly left of the IV as it appeared to have an I in the middle.
The smle barrel is shown in these pics, stock has original barrel channel and band but is cut down..Attachment 126014Attachment 126015Attachment 126016Attachment 126017Attachment 126018

I have determined the cartouche immediately left of the IV is FORT WILLIAM ARSENAL (Calcutta). Now to find the QPP in relation to india.

[Gil Boyd]

Interesting if it is as you suspect?But as it is in Canada it made infinate sense to be one of yours, but to me it looks to tidy for Ishapore.

[Olddust]

Yes being in Canada one would expect it to have a history to this Country. My understanding is that Canada did not get mkIV MH on issue. MkII and III but not IV. I have reached out to rifle shooters and enthusiasts in India, they have confirmed the Cartouche as Fort William Arsenal (Calcutta)
The gentleman I have been chatting with believes it is linked to the frontier outpost of Quetta. This was the district at the edge of British influence in Colonial times and the did have a Provincial Police formed by British Officers and men loyal to the crown from the country side.
Surplus from all over the world was brought to Canada post ww2 for the next 40year. This MH was bought from a surplus dealer in 1960’s
Could it have been pressed into British home guard service ? India sent a huge amount of weapons to Britain from the outset of WW2
Very interesting story

[Warren]

If it was in Canada it would have been marked with either a DC or M&D markings on the left side of the butt stock.

[green]

MkIV MH appeared on surplus market in Canada c1960.
IMHO this arm was fitted with an SMLE barrel by a Canadian enthusiast (c1960- whenever) who wanted a Martini to shoot with readily available ammo.[COLOR="black"]

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