FR buttstock stamping question

[old crow]

On another LE forum, the 'FR' buttstock stamping has become a topic of some interest. The reason for the stamping appears to be unknown, subject to much conjecture as to its origin and its intent. Much speculation but no definitive answer. Why so many Savage No.4s are so stamped (but, some SMLEs/No.1s apparently have been similarly stamped). I am speaking solely of the 'FR' stamping on the right side of the buttstock (done in many fonts) and NOT speaking of the RFI 'FR' stamping on the metal of the action body. Questions: What does the 'FR' stamped on the buttstock signify and by whom done? TIA. Old Crow

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Thunderbox]

There are at least two long threads about "FR" already here - and many of the posters are the same.

[Frederick303]

Calling Capt. Laidler, calling Capt laidler...............

Any insights to the curious?

[old crow]

Thunderbox: Appreciate your responce but I seem unable to locate the postings.

[Peter Laidler]

Nope, don't know anything about the marks except what's already been said. From the fact that it's been aired on another site, it just seems as though someones going around the houses until he gets the answer he wants

[Thunderbox]

Thunderbox: Appreciate your responce but I seem unable to locate the postings.

Heres one post. The FR question comes around every two or three months, so there are other threads out there...


FR stamped on butt. What does this indicate.

[Peter Laidler]

Similar question on the same subject for you T/box..... Is the FR mark, as opposed to the known and accepted Factory Repair mark on the side of the butt just particular to the woodwork or is it marked in obscure places on the other parts too?

[Badger]

For quick and thorough searches, everyone should check out the Google CSE (Custom Search Engine) which is located at the top right corner of the forums, just under the standard search box.

It's a piece of custom code from Google that just searches Milsurps.Com posts and threads, including the archive.

So, give it a try and you might find some really interesting old threads with content about topics you either never knew about or had forgotten.

In this example, try seraching for fr mark snd see what turns up.

Hope that helps ....

Regards,
Doug

[muffett.2008]

You are just so subtle Badger.

[Thunderbox]

Similar question on the same subject for you T/box..... Is the FR mark, as opposed to the known and accepted Factory Repair mark on the side of the butt just particular to the woodwork or is it marked in obscure places on the other parts too?

The stamped (and painted) "FR" mark appears in a fairly consistent font & size on woodwork only - IIRC apart from the Indian FTR "FR" on butt sockets, the "other" FR mark does not seem to turn up on other components. There are are, of course, other "F"s and "R"s scattered in amongst the hundreds of inspection marks on No4 bodies and barrels, but nothing that looks like the deliberate FR in question.

I have a feeling that I've also seen an "FR" stamped onto the buttplate tang of two Savage rifles, but didn't take particular note at the time.


Our mystery FR appears on:

1. new, unused woodwork otherwise marked as Pakistani (e.g. "P58", etc), but which sometimes appears to be of European origin (ie red walnut as opposed to the dark "Turkish walnut" of the POF rifles);

2. the butts of large numbers of No4s (principally Savages) that (a) don't appear to have been refurbished (b) don't appear to have been anywhere near Pakistan;

3. the butts of a small number of No1s of mixed parentage that (a) don't appear to have been refurbished (b) don't appear to have been to Pakistan or India.


It is because of this strange contradiction over the Pakistan link that I surmise that "FR" is something to do with Pakistan's procurement of complete rifles and also parts for its own No4 building programme. I think that probably BSA, the Crown Agents or Interarms were stockpiling rifles and components in a UK warehouse on behalf of Pakistan and that "FR" is some sort of contract mark. For some reason - perhaps the start of Pakistan's own rifle production - most of the rifles never got shipped, and instead ended up in the general surplus market. I'd guess the truth is buried somewhere in the Sam Cummings/Interarms story....