Unit Disc

[Peter Laidler]

2/6 (2nd Battalion, 6th Punjab Regt) Punjab Regiment. But I wouldn't be putting a lot of faith in it being an Arsenal marking to be honest. Have we seen a UK rifle with Woolwich, Weedon or Thatcham? Or another Indian Arsenal marking on a disc? If this was the case, the world would be swamped with Ordnance depot marked discs These arms depots are just that. Arms depots who issue/return thousands of weapons every month

Just being the devils advocate...........

[jrhead75]

Have we seen a UK rifle with Woolwich, Weedon or Thatcham? Or another Indian Arsenal marking on a disc?

Yes we have, at least with Indian arsenals...FA, AA, RP, KA, FW are all ones that come to mind. It's mandated in Instructions for Armourers, published by the Government of India Army Department, 1911. Specific examples illustrated in Appendix I - Table VII, pg 180.

[Peter Laidler]

I don't have my copy of 1911 Indian EMER's handy JR but are these rebuild mark stamped into the butts as Armourers have been doing for years and years as we often see. Or are these marks put onto the butt marking disc? Seems a strange way to go about it especially as once the weapon goes out to a unit the continuity/history of the weapon is lost once they replace the disc - which they were obliged to do once the weapon was taken on charge by the new unit!

[jrhead75]

From the table "Marking of arms issued from store for ordinary service".

"With disks embedded in butt:

Ordnance marks: Arsenal initials, Number of month and year of issue.

Corps marks: Corps marks and consecutive numbers.

Position of marks: On the disk."

Table VII of Appendix I illustrates examples of both disk and buttplate tang for rifles without disks.
The heading:
"On brass disk. The figures above the screws are the issuing Arsenal's initial and the date of issue."

[Peter Laidler]

Well, you can't get more positive than that description. Can we assume that the 2/6 - PR is 2nd/6th Punjab Regiment too?

Now for the icing on the cake if that IS the case.......... I have a very large, 10" x 8" oval, cast in 5 parts, bolted together brass and silver Kings Crown pre-war regimental badge of the Punjab Regiment. I showed it to our Indian Army Liaison Officer who said that the Regiment was split into two parts after partition. A variation of this badge went to the Pakistan Army while the Indian part of the Regiment used another variation. But both Regiments, both Pakistan and Indian Army still use the old regimental quick march music.

I will photograph it and get it on tomorrow

[jrhead75]

I would certainly like to see that!

[Frederick303]

I seem to recall seeing this disc mounted on an Irish SMLE rifle that showed up on Gun broker recently.

Added after service, at least that was my call. Serial number was J22447, scrubbed receiver, refitted bolt.

[Frederick303]

I should also mention, these discs were available from Spring field Sporters back in the day. It was common to see them added on guns in PA, which is where this gun came from.

[Alan de Enfield]

I seem to recall seeing this disc mounted on an Irish SMLE rifle that showed up on Gun broker recently.

Added after service, at least that was my call. Serial number was J22447, scrubbed receiver, refitted bolt.

Yes - that's the same one (and its in PA)
The bolt looks original to me - no sign of grinding off numbers and the font is the same as that on the receiver ?
What made you think its an ex Irish SMLE ?

http://pics.gunbroker.com/GB/5062610...x785469799.jpg

http://pics.gunbroker.com/GB/5062610...x902516978.jpg

[Peter Laidler]

Punjab Regiment