FAT Stamp?

[painter777]

Isn't this (picture) one of the FAT stamps they used?
Trying to remember, Were some just stamped with a star? Or number? Or both?
Did the Greek returns have a stamp on same area?

Thx
CH-P777



Pic # 48

http://www.gunbroker.com/item/673275891

Information

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[Bruce McAskill]

Yes sir it's a FAT stamp from Italy. The Greek returns were not stamped. The numbers would be the year stamp it was rebuilt or at least checked out at FAT.

[painter777]

Not stocks, just barrel stamps.

I thought I had seen some that only had a small star on the barrel, no numbers, SOME being the key word. Spent sometime today searching misc threads on misc forums. Every one I found with a description of just having the star and no numbers/date that had pictures... HAD being the key word. HAD... That Photobucket no 3rd party hosting POP UP BLOCKER ADD. We've lost many images we more than likely will never see again. It's not like you'll be able to go back to a X many years ago thread and repost your pictures, after you find a new pic hosting option. That Photobucket POP UP BLOCKER, might as well be a DEAD OR ALIVE WANTED POSTER.

If any of you haven't come across this pop up blocker yet.... you will soon enough.

BTW, there were quite a few reports of just a small star.. no date, on the barrels.

FWIW
CH-P777

[Bruce McAskill]

The stamp being sideways is not the normal for them. The normal stamping was same location just pointed forward. I don't know that anyone has come up with an answer on the star being stamped there yet. It may just be that it means it was worked on at one of the other arsenals and not at FAT or that it was just checked out and checked OK so nothing was done to it.

[painter777]

Thx for the follow up Bruce,
Why I brought this up was to try to refresh my memory on their (FAT) stamping styles.
I've come across some auction site carbine offerings where this area of the barrels show fresh filing or other style of 'Removal' method (s).
Some show attempts of possible cold blue touch ups, trying to blend/match the old park finish. Some just show the raw, no sign of finish, after marking was removed. You don't seem to hear anything any more about the Italian returns.
Thoughts being......... Maybe some think these are De-valued, believing it's considered a 'Import Mark'.
When we know they are not. IMO by removing the marks, they are loosing part of that carbines service history. I also seen 1 carbine I believe may have had a FAT stamp removed from the rear bevel on a receiver. I was well past these sightings as I trolled multiple auction sites before I thought to book mark them.
If I come across any again, I'll be sure to note them. If anyone is interested.

FWIW,
Charlie-Painter777

[Patrick Chadwick]

IMO by removing the marks, they are loosing part of that carbines service history.

Quite right. And if I may grind my personal axe once again, it comes from the mania for "restoring" i.e falsifying rifles to return them to a presumed "correct" and "original" or "all matching" configuration.

[Bruce McAskill]

I will say the Italians showed no mercy as far as stamping the FAT stamp on the stocks. I have seen a number of them that seemed like King Kong hit the stamp into the wood real deep. I got a Rock-Ola from CMP that had a type 5 pot belly post war stock on it The FAT stamp seemed like it was half way through the stock it was so deep. I pull off the pot belly stock and installed a correct Rock-Ola stock as it seemed more fitting then the pot belly. Just to see if I could raise the FAT stamp I cleaned the stock and then took a steam iron to it. After about five tries in as many days I got the stamp up about half but that was it. Just too deep.