RIF 1927 Marking

[chris.gsr]

Ok guys. Here are some more photos of the other markings.

[TonyE]

I'm not sure that I would agree with that Tony......... While the I might apply to India in respect of ammunition manufacture - of which I know absolutely nothing about - , I say that with regards to small-arms, then RFI most definately IS Ishapore. I'm not saying this about this RIF 1927 mark in particular as we don't know the other markings but in our old 70's intelligence book of markings, I is Ishapore. Mind you, the booklet has been wrong in the past, but only once......... and that was in respect of the RNG mark

I absolutely agree that "RFI" is Rifle Factory Ishapore, Peter. What I said was that the mark in question was "RF" for "Rifle Factory" with the letters on either side of an "I" surmounted by a Broad Arrow, which was the Indian government ownership mark.

I have a rifle that is similarly marked for 1925. The "RFI" mark for refurbishment did not come into use until later.

REgards
TonyE

[Peter Laidler]

Are we saying that RFI is Rifle Factory Ishapore but RIF (with W-D arrow above I) is Rifle Factory India?

[TonyE]

Yes, I am saying that RFI is Rifle Factory Ishapore, but that the other mark is "RF" for "Rifle Factory" and the "Broad Arrow over I" is not for Ishapore but is the Indian ownership mark.

All the Dominions had their individual government ownership marks. Canada was a Broad Arrow within C, South Africa was a Broad Arrow within U, India was a Broad Arrow over I. It is just a coincidence that the Indian rifle factory began with the letter "I", the same as India.

I will try to find the formal introduction from 1896.

Regards
Tony

[TonyE]

I had a quick look but could not find the general introduction, but I did find this List of Change paragraph showing the ownership mark to be applied to .45 inch machine Gun ammunition made for India.

Regards
TonyE

[jrhead75]

The "Arrow over I" mark for Indian gov't ownership also appears on bladed weapons. I have a P'85 cavalry sword so marked.

[butlersrangers]

I have a rifle that is similarly marked for 1925. The "RFI" mark for refurbishment did not come into use until later.

I have a Pattern 1903 Sht L.E. sword bayonet that is marked "RFI" on the butt of the hilt. This is a conversion of a P1888 Wilkinson blade. The date 1903 is re-struck and under the Crown & above "Wilkinson". The opposite side of the blade is marked with an "X", a WD with a Broad Arrow, a W inspector stamp, a small "I" with a Broad Arrow above it, and a small 1G over a 7. The use of "RFI", at least on bayonet conversions, goes back at least to 1903.