Need help ID Belgian Mauser 30-06 please!

[living_the_dream]

Hi All,

So my first post and I need some help identifying this rifle as I have spent countless hours researching and can't seem to get to the bottom of it exactly.

So this is what I know and have filled it in according to the pictures and then summarise at the end. I know it is a Military FN Mauser 30-06 large rings due to measuring it.

Serial number is 18150 and has no insignia as my father had a scope mounted about 25 odd years ago. He has no idea what was there which is why I think I am struggling to ID it exactly.
Attachment 87357

I know that because of the capitals and lower case I can narrow it down to a few countries and from the following pictures I narrowed it down to Belgian.
Attachment 87358

Just serial number again (so they all match).
Attachment 87359

Now here is where I got some success and some confusions. I know that the crown insignia (ELG) is the Belgian 'Definitive' proof marking of the Barrel. Can not find out what the 'D' is above it. I am guessing maybe year? The 'E*' on the receiver is the French town Mutzig special marking which I have no idea what that means either? The symbol below I have no idea about either?
Attachment 87360

Serial matches again which is good.
Attachment 87361

Any idea what this stands for? Thought it may be from original owner initials or something but it looks professionally stamped?
Attachment 87362

Any ideas what the '74' stands for? To be honest it looks newer then the rifle its self.
Attachment 87363

Obviously added the sling myself as have taken for a couple of hunts here and there and scope was aded by my father as previously mentioned. Bolt handle has also been replaced because of scope clearance issues when my father got the scope mounted. The finish is actually black not grey like I though as may have been Navy version but was black under upper part of stock.
Attachment 87364


So there is all the info I know. I know it was proofed in Belgian (barrel) and French town either the rifle or just the reciever. I am sure it's the Army version due to the colour and I know it is a Belgian FN Mauser 30-06. I have no idea about year which is what I would love to know so any halp would be greatly appreciated and thank you in advance!

Information

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[aqbill]

I believe it's a post-war and of '48-'54 vintage. They - FN - made a lot of these for export to Palestine and the middle east.

[living_the_dream]

I believe it's a post-war and of '48-'54 vintage. They - FN - made a lot of these for export to Palestine and the middle east.

Hi Aqbill and thanks for the info. So guessing then these would be readily available which I also thought due to such a big number (serial number)? Is there a way in which I can narrow it down to the year that you know of?

[AJMBLAZER]

The .30-06 FN’s didn’t go to Israel or the Middle East. Various South American countries, Morocco, and Belgium bought them in that calibre.

[living_the_dream]

The .30-06 FN’s didn’t go to Israel or the Middle East. Various South American countries, Morocco, and Belgium bought them in that calibre.

Hi Ajmblazer,
Yeah ok cool. Is there a way I can determine the year this was made that you know of? I assume the’D’ above the Belgium stamp indicates the year but I can not find that information?!

[AJMBLAZER]

My knowledge runs out there. I know my carbine is Columbian because of the big ol’ Columbian military crest FN put on the receiver. I got a lot of help over on the gunboards.com forum figuring out what mine was.

[living_the_dream]

My knowledge runs out there. I know my carbine is Columbian because of the big ol’ Columbian military crest FN put on the receiver. I got a lot of help over on the gunboards.com forum figuring out what mine was.

Ok cool, yeah would be a big help if what ever crest was still on the top and cheers.

[Patrick Chadwick]

The 'E*' on the receiver is the Frenchicon town Mutzig special marking which I have no idea what that means either? The symbol below I have no idea about either?

Nothing to do with Mutzig.

Star over single letter is the Belgian inspector's mark. For the period in question *over E is Auguste Jamart,
active from 1924-1959.

The symbol below is the Liege "perron" (look it up!) = final proof.

If there is a date code anywhere, in the period 1945-59 it would be a lower case Greek letter.

[AJMBLAZER]

Ok cool, yeah would be a big help if what ever crest was still on the top and cheers.

Anthony Vander...something...is the guy who literally wrote the book on FN Mausers recently and he posts over there in the Mauser forum. Give it a shot.

[Patrick Chadwick]

"I assume the’D’ above the Belgium stamp indicates the year but I can not find that information?!"

It looks as if that could be the mark of inspector René Marchal, active from 1951 to 1968.
Combine that with Auguste Jamart, active from 1924-1959, and the date of manufacture is narrowed down to 1951-1959.

I think there is some information in Ball (Mauser Military Rfiles of the World) on post-WWII FN production batches. Colombia seems likely. FWIW they are IMHO rough to shoot - one misses the stabilizing length and weight of an M1917 1