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In 1928 the receiver stamp was eliminated, Imperial pattern small hammer markings on smaller parts and big hammer marking on the stock were changed to "star" (smaller parts) & "arrow in star" (stock and barrel) markings. In 1926 a "big hammer" marking on the front of the receiver was changed to a "wheat with hammer and sickle" marking, quite similar to the Izhevsk "wheat with hammer and sickle". In the 1920's Tula used the full name of the factory (Tula Foremost Ordnance Factory) with a star above as a part of the main logo on the barrel shank, while the receiver was stamped with big hammer (used since 1918). The imperial pattern "bow and arrow" emblem was used as a part of the big factory emblem and as a small emblem In 1928 the stamping on the receiver was eliminated, the stamp on the stock was modified, circular Р.С.Ф.С.Р letters were added (Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic). During the earlier period, since 1919, Izhevsk used a "wheat with hammer and sickle" stamp on the barrel shank, receiver, and stock. The above mentioned factory emblems were used on rifles and carbines in the 1930's and 1940's, they were adopted in 1928 when both factories changed their emblems, compared with their earlier ones. Small factory emblems were star without an arrow for Tula, and triangle with arrow for Izhevsk. The big emblem of the Tula factory was star with an arrow inside, the big emblems of the Izhevsk factory was a wreath with a hammer and sickle inside, and a triangle with an arrow inside (triangle with arrow was not used on stocks). Big factory emblems were stamped on the barrel and the stock (during the M91 production period they were stamped on the receiver as well), small emblems were stamped on smaller parts.
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There were two types of factory emblems, big (which looked different on different parts) and small. While the production process continued the year ended and a new one begun.įactory emblems were stamped on many parts of the rifle. Some rifles have different dates on the barrel shank because the receiver was attached to the barrel when it was not dated. The receiver tang was stamped with a factory marking and production year only after a barrel was attached to it, stamps on the barrel shank were added later. That's a good example showing that factories were not prohibited from using additional markings, their type and location were established by local instructions.
![circle y serial number lookup circle y serial number lookup](https://extranet.education.unimelb.edu.au/SME/TNMY/Decimals/Decimals/cases/images/stills/wn03f.gif)
The production year stamping on stocks, like those done by the Tula factory, was not required by the drawings. According to factory drawings, the production year was stamped on the barrel shank and on the underside of the receiver tang. The easiest markings to spot from this group are the factory emblems, production y ear and serial numbers. *Strengthen and VD cartridges are variations of proof cartridges, which provided excessive pressure in the barrel. From the top to bottom they are: - factory emblem - personal marking the quality control department chief - personal marking of the quality control worker - steel lot number (steel that was used for the production) - production year - test with two strengthen cartridges* markings - rifle's serial number - accuracy test markings - powder test marking (after 1940 it was replaced with the VD cartridge* test marking). It shows the ID of each marking (how it was marked in the parts drawings) and a sample of how the marking should look. Main factory markings that were present in production drawings were mandatory for all manufacturers. The image on the right shows an example of such a list. They are: 1) Main markings that were present in production drawings starting in 1935 (before 1935 they were not mentioned in drawings) 2) Operational markings and proofmarks 3 ) Markings about a specific rifle/carbine configuration (training, sniper, etc.) Now more details about these markings groups. As mentioned in the general information, there are several groups of factory markings.