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martin08 - is that a captured Czarist Mosin?
Aragorn243 - we need a good photo of the markings on that bolt. As you noted, it is an odd place for a capture mark. And the fact that it is not a clean AZF sequence jars. But the AZ number series has been recorded as used by Brescia in 1918 (see "Il Novantuno" P.343). So it may quite simply be a mismatched or replacement bolt from a Brescia M91.
Photos please!
The AZ F is not stylized. It's rather crude actually. The A is a smaller font size. The F and Z are larger and appear to be the same. The F could be an unfished P also, hard to tell.
All markings are on the square portion of the bolt. The top face has the four digit serial number, 3742 on the bottom, the top center has a PG in a square, upside down to the serial number. There is a V to the left and a G to the right of the PG.
It is the rear face which has the AZ F
I'll get some photos up soon. Feeling really lazy right now but I have several things I need to photograph, just need to get everything ready.
PG (Prova Gardone) in a square is an inspection stamp from Gardone. Nothing to do with the serial number, which is why it's upside down. According to "Il Novantuno", after 1916 Gardone was used for the inspection of spare parts from Brescia.
Definitely sounds like a replacement part. Not yet sure how the odd V and G hang together with the rest. But photos might help to clear the fog (HINT !).
Took some time to take photos today:
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/i...psbhuk8rvb.jpg
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/i...psxuv4ldj4.jpg
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/i...psjcdu1kwi.jpg
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/i...psujsbuovd.jpg
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/i...psjo9xqmdr.jpg
You can see the AZ alright but the F or P is the diagonal slash, can't see the arms in the photo.
I don't think it is impossible to rule out the AZF stamp as for Artillerie Zeugs Fabrik, Vienna. But I can say that I have not seen it applied on a firearm in that particular font, or in a location other than a receiver or barrel.
And sorry for not seeing your question earlier, Patrick Chadwick. Yes, that picture of the AZF is on an Austrian captured 1905 Tula Mosin Nagant M91.
VG 3712 is the number of the bolt.
The AZ (can't see the F?? or P??) is applied in a place that is not normally used for marking. No record of any marks in this position in "Il Novantuno". If the Austrians had wanted to stamp an AZF they would have stamped a neat in-line AZF in a font size that fitted, not the mess that we see here. Look at the Mosin-Nagant for a good example.
The A came first, stamped in the centre of the area. Then the Z was added, in a different size, and not quite straight. Finally the F?/P? was fudged in on the left. The marks thus appear to be independent of one another. I can only guess that these are some kind of inspection marks.
Anyway, at least it's a Brescia bolt in a Brescia rifle.
Wow that came out great lot better than when i saw it good job:thup::thup:
Only disappointing thing is I couldn't draw out the cartouches any better. The big one is gone, all I have is a general shape, the numbers are faint but they don't match. Sometimes with rubbing and BLO, the cartouches will "clear" up a bit and be readable, didn't work with this one.
It stills looks way better than when It was in my hands
I found a cleaning rod for the rifle that came with another stock. The new stock has a fairly clear cartouche and clear numbers and is tiger striped. Since the original wasn't matching I went ahead and swapped out the stocks. The cleaning rod fit tight but was not in the screw down location, sticking out about 1/4 inch. Took it apart, forced the built up crap out of the other end and it now fits properly. The issue is the female portion of the screw in the front barrel band is stripped and will not hold the cleaning rod. I tried both barrel bands and both are stripped. I'm considering filling the hole with JB Weld and then drilling and tapping it but wondering if there might be a better solution out there. Maybe silver soldier? Suggestions appreciated. Thought about ordering another barrel band but with two completely stripped, wondering if this is a common thing with these.