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How common or uncommon are these Fianna Fail rifles?
1. Were they purchased or issued to the Irish Free State? When?
2. Were they FTR'd prior to transfer or did the Irish renumber them?
3. How many rifles were involved?
Since there is zero in Skennerton about them, where is the history behind these guns? Regards, Rick.
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There are some old discussion threads and pics on the subject.
Regards,
Doug
Good call Doug. Seems as if Fritz is compiling a data base on them. They just don't pop up for sale that often and I have a theory....I owned one for 10 years and never paid attention to the circle FF. There are probably a bunch of them out there still "undiscovered". I am surprised there is no mention of them in Skennerton or any other document that I can find. There is one for sale on the GB trader that looks pretty nice for $400 and if I didn't already own one, I would be snatching that one up for sure. Regards, Rick.
Some other background for members who may want to learn more about rifles with this marking ... ;)
Member Ingstrt published in an old thread from 2009 (click here) a pic of his 1916 Enfield Mk III which has the Irish Free State marking (Fianna Fiel) marked on top of the knox form and receiver, as well as FB23 (Firth Brown steel batch number).
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...MG_00861-1.jpg
Although not a SMLE, the FF marking also appeared on other rifles. If you check the MKL and with thanks to Advisory Panel members Lance and Wheaty, there's an entry in the England section complete with a 182 picture photo montage.
No.3 MkI* (T) Rifle (BSA Scope) (click here)
c/w matching Model 1918 (3x) Scope Serial #226763 (Mfg by B.S.A Guns)
This is one of only 79 rifles converted by B.S.A Guns, contracted between July 27, 1935 and completed by Dec 9, 1938. The scope and rifle are "all matching" with "all correct" fonts and markings for collector comparisons.
All those specimens noted from the B.S.A. contract have had the Irish Free State marking (Fianna Fiel) on the back of the left rear telescope mount, so it would appear that these sniper rifles were assembled for an Irish contract.
Irish Free State marking (Fianna Fiel)
http://photos.imageevent.com/badgerd...w226763/FF.JPG
http://photos.imageevent.com/badgerd...20_Medium_.JPG(Click PIC to Enlarge)http://photos.imageevent.com/badgerd...20_Medium_.JPG(Click PIC to Enlarge)http://photos.imageevent.com/badgerd...20_Medium_.JPG
Regards,
Doug
A large transfer of arms to the Free State army was carried out once the Treaty was signed, besides the stuff they had already captured. I think another transfer happened once the Civil War was looming.
There seems to be some evidence that the British got rid of their older patterns of Sht L.E. in this way, to avoid running a 'mixed fleet'.