Dear collector-colleagues,
here is the already flewn correspondence added, in which the German collector describes the rifle more precisely. Hope, that it might bring some light in the mystery. Please excuse the little bit bumpy english.....
The factory-legend on the left side of the receiver-wall is correctly: FAB. NAT. D’ARMES DE GUERRE (new line): HERSTAL - BELGIQUE
I now removed the handguard and found, that the barrel-# matches with the receiver and the bolt. Above the chamber under the rear part of the barrel behind the rear sight from 12 to 9 hours the following stamps are placed: “BNP 7.9 m/m 2.244” 18 tons per (sign for square-inch) Below (funny enough, the calibre is definitely 8x57!!) 7 m/m Mr, followed by a lying capital “T”. below that B.blindee (very deep stamped, basically not readable) crown over R, a little rampant lion (or a K, badly stamped, a line, P.V, star over S and the usual ELG in cartouche under crown.
By the way, I wonder, that there are no belgish proof-marks on the left side of the receiver.
And here follows the initial e-mail sent earlier:
Some days ago I bought an from the 1st view regular FN Mod. 24/30, #26083 on receiver and bolt, 8x57, in quite nice condition, which costed me in the meantime many hours in front of my computer without any chance to bring clearness to the history of this rifle. The intertwined letters, from the first look the usual “FN” logo are differing from that, what can be expected and found generally. I read these 2 letters more as “PH” and I have absolutely no clou about the meaning.. Please have a look at my picture, and I think, you would agree. On the receiver-wall is the usual 2-lines-adress of FN in capital letters. I would like to add, that the rifle has beside the usual Belgian proofs a british proof on the receiver and the bolt-handle and the barrel is 6 grooves and fields and left hand twisted produced, also very unusual. Of course no gap in the reiver to clear the space for bullet-tips, as necessary, if caliber would be .30-06.
No belgian proof-marks on the receiver wall wheresoever and it looks, there hadn’t been any before, or they were milled out before placing the “PH”-stamp. The style of the digits of the serial-# are matching on all 3 locations stamped to the rifle.
If I read all these stamps together, I can think, that the original barrel in 7x57 was later bored out to 8x57, that might explain the the unusual twist and the number of grooves and fields. But still there is no explaining about the PH- stamp on the receiver.