Irish acceptance markings?

[Flying10uk]

Did the Irish Defence Force ever use any kind of acceptance mark indicating that a piece of equipment has been accepted into service? Did they have an equivalent of the broad arrow/crows foot marking? Is there any-way of telling if a piece of equipment/weapon/etc has been used by the Irish army? Thanks

Information

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[Kev G]

Some items will be found that have the Fianna Fáil over lapped FF mark.
An example on a Bren mag below -



ATB Kevin

[Frederick303]

That mark seems to show up on arms that have been back to UK for rectification, so I am not so sure it is a true Irish acceptances stamp to be applied to all arms as much as an Irish "acceptance stamp for items to be paid for in the UK after rework."

For example when trying to figure out the renumbered Irish No1 MK III rifles from 1922 to 1923, it became apparent that only the rifles that had been back to the UK for re-barreling had the FF stamp. Same is true of the .22 cal SMLE rifles, only those rifles sent back to Parker hale post ware for a re-barrel seem to have the FF stamp on the wood. Also it only appears on the parts replaced, so for barrels replaced in the 1925 to 1937 era it is only applied to the barrel, in the 1938 lot where entire barreled actions were replaced it is applied to both the barrel and the action body.

Also it is my understanding, though Kev G. is the expert, that the Czech Brens (~82 of them) and magazines that have the FF mark on them were all cycled through Enfield lock for some kind of rectification work either prior to delivery or as a send back just prior to WWII. I note none of the war time supplied or post war Irish Brens seem to have these marks. Same is true of the No 4 MK II rifles, none of them have the mark.

[Badger]

Member Ingstrt published in an old thread from 2009 (click here) a pic of his 1916 Enfield Mk III which has the Irish Free State marking (Fianna Fiel) marked on top of the knox form and receiver, as well as the FB23 (Firth Brown steel batch number).



Although not a SMLE, the FF marking also appeared on other rifles. If you check the MKL and with thanks to Advisory Panel members Lance and Wheaty, there's an entry in the England section complete with a 182 picture photo montage.

No.3 MkI* (T) Rifle (BSA Scope) (click here)
c/w matching Model 1918 (3x) Scope Serial #226763 (Mfg by B.S.A Guns)

This is one of only 79 rifles converted by B.S.A Guns, contracted between July 27, 1935 and completed by Dec 9, 1938. The scope and rifle are "all matching" with "all correct" fonts and markings for collector comparisons.

All those specimens noted from the B.S.A. contract have had the Irish Free State marking (Fianna Fiel) on the back of the left rear telescope mount, so it would appear that these sniper rifles were assembled for an Irish contract.

Irish Free State marking (Fianna Fiel)


(Click PIC to Enlarge)(Click PIC to Enlarge)

Regards,
Doug

[Kev G]

I'm not too sure the FF Fianna Fáil ownership mark can be cited as being administered to everything but does show up frequently up to the late 30's on equipment.

Some examples below in different fonts/designs.









Other items such as tables,chairs and shirts are also noted.

As with other foriegn contracts such as Iraq, DDE drawings for stamps can be found -
03/09/1935 Stamp, steel, for metal & wood. Iraq Government Mark.
10/10/1935 Stamp, steel, for metal (Iraq Government Mark for Departmental use)

But for Ireland I can only find (that is to say of those catologed) one DDE drawing -
17/04/1939 Stamp steel for Wood "Eire" mark for use by examiners.

However regarding the Czech Brens of which most of the consignment went to the Irish Free State, this was an order placed with the British War Office on behalf of the Irish. As part of the order the guns were examined and proofed at Enfield before being shipped on.
I 'believe' the FF marks may have been done at Enfield as proof of examination.(rather than rectification)
As an aside the magazine boxes and magazine and accessory boxes along with the magazine loaders that were also part of the consignment are not FF marked.

ATB Kevin