P.14 Brass Unit Plate?

[lawrence_n]

Greetings all. I've recently come into posssession of pretty run-of-the-mill ERA P.14. The volley sight disc is present on the fore stock, but the pointer and the folding peep are long gone. Where I am at a loss is regarding the brass plate spanning the brass stock disc. As you can see from the pic, it's clearly marked with some sort of designation and what I believe to be a rack number. My research has not turned up any definitive information, so I'm turning to the experts for this one. If anyone knows positively what the brass plate denotes, I'd love to hear from you. Thanks in advance.

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.

[Promo]

I've once been told it originates from the French Foreign Legion, but can't bring any proofs for this. I have one or two P.14 too with this plate.

[lawrence_n]

I've once been told it originates from the French Foreign Legion, but can't bring any proofs for this. I have one or two P.14 too with this plate.

The gentleman from whom I purchased the rifle claims that it designates the Indonesian military. I can't say yea or nay, but I'm hoping someone knows for sure.

[mike1967]

I believe those brass lozenge type marking plates were Portugese.

[Kiwi]

The gentleman from whom I purchased the rifle claims that it designates the Indonesian military. I can't say yea or nay, but I'm hoping someone knows for sure.

In Indonesian, SAU is the abbreviation for Senapan Angkatan Udara (Rifle for Airforce). It would fit with the previous owners claim. Just my 2c and some 5 mins of google searches.

[lawrence_n]

In Indonesian, SAU is the abbreviation for Senapan Angkatan Udara (Rifle for Airforce). It would fit with the previous owners claim. Just my 2c and some 5 mins of google searches.

I just wasn't looking in the right place (obviously). Thanks for the info. Any idea of the CIE and HSN?

[Promo]

Another thread here suggests something Dutch .... https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=14133

[Flying10uk]

It would be interesting to hear as to what is on the round butt disc below, please?

[UNPROFOR1994]

I think these SAU-CIE rifles were used by the French S.A.S. in Algiers. And those aren't the S.A.S. forces you are thinking about right now.

I'm talking about the "Képis Bleus" a.k.a. the "Sections Administratives Spécialisées" and the "Sections Adminstratives Urbaines" who operated in Algiers from 1955 until 1962.

http://archives.ecpad.fr/kepi-bleu-12/

http://archives.ecpad.fr/kepi-bleu-22/

They had their own Algerian security forces or "compagnies militaires" the "moghaznis". They were mostly armed with al sorts of WW2 surplus weapons. I think these SAU-CIE P14 rifles were used by the S.A.U. moghaznis.

The French also armed other pro-French Algerian security forces like the "Harkas", "Groupes Mobiles de Sécurité" and the "Groupes d' Auto Défense". Most of them were veterans who fought for France during WW2.

Attachment 74365Attachment 74366Attachment 74367Attachment 74368

[DocAV]

Dutch East Indies: SAU CIE stands for Saupers Companie ( Sappers Company, ie, Engineers)
(The Dutch language has many Military Terms of either French or German Origin.)
I have a M95 Dutch Carbine with the same Marking.

The use of the horizontal tag is typical of KNIL Unit tags, and carried over into Indonesian Use ( they didn't bother to remove them after Independence, so when surplussed, they still has the Dutch ID markings). Indon Police Districts are usually "Branded" into the Butt.

Doc AV