[chestnut ridge]

I found a sporterized rifle with cut stock; un-cut barrel and a shiny
bore at the local pawnshop for 90 out the door. I observed a SA
stamp enclosed in a box on the left front receiver ring. What is the
significance of this stamp?

[SDC]

The "SA" stamp is usually seen on Finnish (or Finnish-captured) rifles of the Second World War, meaning "Suomen Armee", IIRC. They're normally on Mosin-Nagants, but I wouldn't put it out of the realm of the possible that an Italian rifle (the Italians also sent troops to the Eastern Front) was captured by the Russians, then re-captured by the Finns.

[Jim Watson]

SA = Suomi Armitage = Finnish Army

When the Italians concluded that the 6.5 Carcano was inadequate for shooting Ethiopians, they increased the caliber to 7.35mm. But they were already into the war with their new friends the Germans, could not make the change on the fly and went back to 6.5 as standard. So many of the 7.35s were sold to Finland who needed everything they could get to shoot Russians with. Actually, the Finnish Carcanos were mostly issued to support troops to free up their standard Mosin Nagants and Suomi submachine guns for combat. Hence the SA marking.

[Ohen Cepel]

I never knew that the Finns had any Carcano's. Never really thought about it but it makes sense.

Great info, thanks!

Man, I love this place!

[Moonclip]

I'd not buy it for that price if sporterized due to the expensive ammo too. SA marked 7.35's IIRC are actually more common than non marked.