Probably one of those who knows/doesn't matter sort of things, but sitting here tonight I got to thinking. When (or why) did the Finns start putting the SA on top of the barrel rather than the side? My 43 round has it on top, and so do several pictures I have seen of 1944 dated examples.
Despite being less than 500 guns away from mine, the SA is on the side. I guess my question is, is the switch over somewhere between these two, or will a larger sample size show some up top and some on the side regardless of date or serial?
Tim, I was specifically wondering about Tikka 91/30s. The 7.62 Mosin site has pictures of "1943" and "1944" variations, but obviously it isn't as simple as an end of year change. It also can't be a wartime/postwar break, with mine and other capture-refurbs marked up top.
I remember reading the barrels were serialed before testing, owing to large blocks of missing serial numbers. When did the Finns mark the SA? At the same time as serialization, or after proofing? If so, could mine be a 1943 barrel assembled in 1944?
Hopefully someone has a picture of a 1943 dated example with a serial higher than mine.
I don't think the Finns were to particular where or how they stamped the SA mark on rifles, some are clear and concise while others look almost haphazard.
I have seen them on top,on the left and on the right of Tikka 91/30's.The Finns weren't particular about where they were placed.You are way over thinking it.
Perhaps I am, but the other thing I find interesting is that it appears that on the "side stamp" Tikkas the "Tikka T" is higher up on the barrel, versus the top stamp, it is much closer to the serial number. (As to make room for the SA?) Even if the SA stampers were haphazard, would the barrel roll mark be inconsistent as well? And consistently inconsistent?
I've though about this, too, and thought "maybe one of the guys applying the stamp was a lefty, and thats the only way he could comfortably and accurately stamp?" I have 2 '43's, and one is on top and the other is on the side. Purely conjecture on my part.
I too have lost sleep on occasions pondering this very quandary. I had suppositioned that one of the factory workers may have injured his right hand on a mill or press and was subsequently transferred to the hand stamping process. This would give the appearance of a left handed stamp. Just a thought, not necessarily a theory.
My 44 round receiver is stamped in the top of the receiver just like the photos above. I have an m-91 that is stamped on the side several times,as if the gentleman who stamped it was new at the depot. The first two seem not solid and angled, the third,as if he got the hang of how hard to strike the punch and how to place it....Larry
So far, all the 1944s I have seen are top stamped. Mdmosin, upthread said his 44 lacked any SA. So far, all 1943 except mine I have seen are side stamped.
I took a look through all the pictures in the Tikka survey thread, and all that I was able to see conformed to 1943 side vs 44 top.
The survey thread shows 3 1943s with serials higher than mine, a break of 470, and then the lowest 1944.
If anyone here has 1943 Tikkas 53747, 53771, or 53884, I would really like to see a picture of your barrel markings!
most SA swacks were lower barrel, netx to the reciver on the rifles left side, but you can find them almost anywhere, even upsidedown. "Freehand art" with stamp and wackenhammer.
not talking about the SA stamp, talking about billboard import mark on the receiver, that's why I thought this could be a Russian recapture/refurb as well. I was talking in regards to the attached picture in the First post in case that was confusing!
Makes you wonder if the placement of the stamp may have described which employee was doing the stamping. People like to leave their marks.
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