Marking

[303 Collector]

I recently purchased a number 4 Mk2 7.62 rifle. It is in the same style as the L39 rifles but has an unusual serial number on the body and bolt RA/007.M
It still has its original number as well.
Does the number mean anything to anybody?

Information

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[Sunray]

That's not a factory S/N. Might be a unit level inventory number. Military's do all kinds of really daft stuff. May not be military at all though.

[Roger Payne]

It's certainly been neatly done. The font looks rather Germanic to me.

[Peter Laidler]

And definitely not military - or certainly not UK military. I agree with DRP that it's a Germanic font

[Paul S.]

The font appears to be the typical ISO font used for engineering drawings. It could have been applied to metal with a data plate engraving machine, but that is speculation.

Who applied it, and why is anyone's guess.

I wonder if it may have been a school or university cadet, or club rifle.

[mrclark303]

Could it be something to do with the Rhodesia? Didn't they mark some of their rifles with a Z letter- number number type serial?

Any Johnny foreigner proof marks on it?

[Gil Boyd]

Not by chance a Remington Arms bought in rifle to trial, as RA is always there leader?

[Roger Payne]

......or Raufoss Ammunition factory of Norway.......??

[Peter Laidler]

We're coming round in a complete circle............. Rhodesia Army....... almost back to the dreaded ZF, or Zimbabwe Forces as the dealers like to tell us!

[mrclark303]

We're coming round in a complete circle............. Rhodesia Army....... almost back to the dreaded ZF, or Zimbabwe Forces as the dealers like to tell us!

I'm sure I was offered an "only dropped out the back of a C47 once" ex Dublin Police and Zimbabwe Forces surplus No4 when I started shooting years ago....

Despite its heritage, I decided to pass ....

Back in the days before the tinterweb, when all the summers were hot and life was in Black and White, it used to be difficult for mere enthusiasts like us to access information, other than spend a small fortune on reference books.

The enormous information resource that's available today here on Milsurps, thanks to the like of Peter, Roger, Mike and many others, is an absolute treasure chest to me and many others .. Certinly stopped me from making more than one potentially very expensive wrong turn in the past....