South African markings

[neorebel]

I just picked up a nice 1948 Fazakerly No4 Mk1 at a local store for $189.00. Yea pretty cheap. I took it home cleaned it up and found the barrel to be in great shape. It was dated 8/48 (F) 33271.

It was missing the back sight (It had a B-square scope mount,) No problem I had a couple of flip up sights that are correct for it. Put it on, cleaned the barrel, action and so forth.

Then I found two markings I wasn't familiar with, a arrow inside a U and a W inside a U. Anyway I found they were South African markings. The arrow in the U is the original acceptance mark and the w in the U was put on around 1961 for the republic of africa.

Mystery solved.

Going out to shoot it today..more when I come back...

Two more mysteries though it had a No 1 Mk 3 magazine with the stop clip on it..it will go good with my old SMLE and the bolt is a drilled bolt handle like the No5 Mk1. The bolt is correct for that time period since it was used on both according to Stratton.

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.

[Doug Rammel]

My South african is a navy. Butt plate is marked S.A.N and and a 4 digit number.

[Peter Laidler]

Just as a matter of interest while we're on the subject, was there ever a ROYAL South African Navy or ROYAL South African Air Force as in R Aust or NZ Navy? If not, any reason

[Frank LE]

Some pics of my South African No4 Mk2. Butt plate is marked SAN as navy property. It is also marked with the U on the knox form.


Attachment 31937Attachment 31938Attachment 31939

[Thunderbox]

Just as a matter of interest while we're on the subject, was there ever a ROYAL South African Navy or ROYAL South African Air Force as in R Aust or NZ Navy? If not, any reason

IIRC South African armed forces weren't actually separate arms until 1951. Naval ships were prefixed "HMSAS", and the reserve was the SARNVR, etc. Pre-WW2 the SA navy and air force were tiny, and didn't really constitute a deployable armed force. The main garrison and naval assets were British.

I've heard that another heraldic reason for the lack of "Royal" - apart from the fledgling nature of those armed forces - was that both South Africa and India were Imperial territories, that is they both contained native royal kingdoms subordinate to the British Crown (Zulus and others in SA, numerous Maharajas in India). Australia, Canada, New Zealand and most other territories were without native "kingdoms" (to some sort of definition, as they still had tribal structures and lower ranking chieftains) and were thus directly "ruled" by the British Crown.

IIRC, the Royal Indian Air Force only became "Royal" at the end of WW2. Not sure why the same didn't happen in SA - it was probably a political decision.

[Peter Laidler]

Clicked in error........., sorry!

[Amatikulu]

There was never a Royal South African Air Force. In WWI the South Africans had the South African Aviation Corps that eventually was incorporated into the Royal Flying Corps. The South African Air Force (SAAF) was formed in 1919 when South Africa was a Dominion of the British Empire known as the Union of South Africa. I would guess that the term "Royal" was never used as it was only a few years before that the Boer War had ended (1902). The term "Royal" might have been antagonistic towards the Boers who's loyalty to the Crown was tenuous at best.

[neorebel]

Well she's holding a decent 4" group in all. I shot two manufacturers of ammo. both 147 grain. One grouped about 2" the other a little bigger. It is also a little difficult to use the 300 range sight at 100 yards. I have to use the base of the post on the bottom of the peep sight and the top of the post on the point of intended impact like the bulls eye. It works pretty well. She got a good cleaning after the range as well with total removal of the copper fouling.

I also found another strange mark on the stock band where the bolt handle touchs. It is a arrow (British type) with a crown under it, a letter N under the crown and the letters FC under the N.

Anyone know what the marks are?

[Peter Laidler]

Right, that's done it Amatikulu.......... No ROYAL in the title.......... As soon as that gunboat is finished sorting out those wild antipodeans and restless colonials in the US, I'll get it sent down to South Africa to teach tem all a lesson and give them all a stern talking to! No Royal SA Navy indeed......... Splice the mainbrace Thunderbox, we'll set sail on Thursday

[Brian Dick]

Make sure you mount one of those wonderful Dillon Gatlings on the prow! I know they're approved for Royal Navy use!!