Unusual Nepalese(?) Francotte

Picked this up today. I have been looking at this particular Martini for some time, the dealer at the show finally let me have it after months of haggling.
It is, apparently, a Nepalese Francotte, but one unlike all the others I've seen. We have a brass buttplate, brass nosecap, and zero markings save for what looks like Nagari on the lever.
Although filthy, it looks like it is well built, not as crude as other examples I've seen.
Receiver has some sections(?) on it.
But what I'm really curious about is the cartouche/stock marking on the butt. No idea what it is, can find no reference.
It's about to get a thorough cleaning. Any thoughts are appreciated, more pics on the way.

This example also has a thumb rest like their British counterparts. Don't remember seeing thumb rests on other Nepalese Francottes.

Where is the breech-block axis pin? Cocking indicator has been removed. What happened to the axis? Some serious fudging seems to have been carried out here. In this context, the all-too-crisp crossed cannons symbol looks as if it was applied recently.

Seriously, it need to be completely dismantled and cleaned before one can make any kind of judgement based on photographs.

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Originally Posted by Patrick Chadwick

Where is the breech-block axis pin? Cocking indicator has been removed. What happened to the axis? Some serious fudging seems to have been carried out here. In this context, the all-too-crisp crossed cannons symbol looks as if it was applied recently.

Seriously, it need to be completely dismantled and cleaned before one can make any kind of judgement based on photographs.

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This is a Francotte Martini.
The axis pin is internal and the cocking indicator is in a slot on the rhs of the block on a Francotte.

It is in the process of being taken apart...some really stuck screws.

Few more pics.....the internals seem to be very well made, only one marking as you can see. Can't tell if it's Nepalese or not.
The crossed cannon stamp was semi covered in the black 'yak grease' along with this other mark. I'm not so sure it's recent.
Trying to get everything else apart. Tough going.

Triggerguard is much rounder than other examples I've seen, and the trigger itself is set a lot further forward, again, compared to others. Action cocks and operates like it should.
This rifle also sports a long nox/nocks. Pics of that later.

Triggerguard is much rounder than other examples I've seen, and the trigger itself is set a lot further forward, again, compared to others. Action cocks and operates like it should.
This rifle also sports a long nox/nocks. Pics of that later.

Cleaned up and reassembled. All sorts of markings popped out after the crud was gone.
Nepali unit marks on the butt, Nepali characters on rear sight leaf with what appears to be a British 'broad arrow' on the rear sight base.
Rifling seems a lot tighter and faster than other Martinis.
Most unusual Nepalese Martini I've ever come across!

Interesting little stamp on the butt.

Interesting. Looks Nepalese. I think the Francotti's are the ones you aren't supposed to shoot.

Given the distributed nature of the Nepal Francotte component manufacturing process then centralized fitting and assembly, a number of differing "features" have been detected among them after careful study such as:
Long/short nocksform (yours is long)
Cross pin/No Cross pin in the forearm (yours has a cross pin)
Cocking indicator or weld closure/no indicator or weld (yours has a weld closing what was originally a cut out for the indicator)
Thumb rest or no thumb rest - this feature appears to have been fazed out early and is pretty rare to find
Sa or Sri inscription on the lever (you have "Sa," - again, suggesting early manufacture)
Brass versus iron butt and nosecap
Locking screw/no locking screw (you didn't post a left side view of the receiver so I cannot tell)

The features above are not consistent to "patterns" and are found in a multitude of with/without combinations although most the later production seem to have dropped many features probably to simplify and speed manufacture (why bother carving a thumb rest if you could do without?)

You internal assembly is stamped च - Ca and there should be a number stamp near it or on the same surface somewhere. I do see a mark in the upper left of the photo, obscured by grease - possibly a "7." If you have a clear photo of the assembly I might be able to pull out a serial number for you. You likely will find the same mark on the underside of your lever, and on the bottom rear flat of the receiver where the lever hides it when closed.

I'm in agreement with you that the crossed cannons are a recent stamp and probably not an arsenal or Nepalese Government mark-at least no one has noticed or mentioned one anywhere that I've ever seen.

Congratulations on obtaining one of the earlier and rarer versions of the Francotte. I'm speculating you have serial #CA-7, but it would be nice to have a confirmation.

Cheers, Vern