Webley Service and the mystery oriental script

[flatrajectory]

Gents,
I had a couple of hours to spare today so decided to start renovating the stock of my recently acquired Mk 2 Service rifle. The stock was covered in a yukky brown coloured varnish , beneath which I was sure lurked a nice piece of walnut.
Well after scraping off the varnish I was confronted by a logo filled in with filler. After removing the filler I discovered a distinctly oriental looking pictogram/ font carved into the stock. This is deliberate carving and not a scratch.
I wonder if any of you chaps can throw any light on this for me. I have googled' 'oriental script', but there are thousands of possibilities and many languages involved. Over to you budding Sherlocks....

Link to pic here. .https://www.dropbox.com/s/5s7xgnr1q7...52124.jpg?dl=0

Pete.

[mrto]

Hi Pete,
It looks to me like it may be HC or HE rather than an Asian Character?

ATB,
Mark.

[Garvin]

Gents,
I had a couple of hours to spare today so decided to start renovating the stock of my recently acquired Mk 2 Service rifle. The stock was covered in a yukky brown coloured varnish , beneath which I was sure lurked a nice piece of walnut.
Well after scraping off the varnish I was confronted by a logo filled in with filler. After removing the filler I discovered a distinctly oriental looking pictogram/ font carved into the stock. This is deliberate carving and not a scratch.
I wonder if any of you chaps can throw any light on this for me. I have googled' 'oriental script', but there are thousands of possibilities and many languages involved. Over to you budding Sherlocks....

Link to pic here. .https://www.dropbox.com/s/5s7xgnr1q7...52124.jpg?dl=0

Pete.

Are you sure it's not the carved initials of Henry Evans (or someone), Pete?

Edit: Bu**er! Mark beat me to it!

[Josie & John]

Khyber Pass model or Afghani Mark I

Sorry I have nothing sensible to contribute!

John

[Binners]

Man with carved butt has pants down in gunshop.....


AhSo

[junglie]

The initials are in the form of a sigil, a magical symbol (for the owner maybe) Before you all laugh look around you at companies logos everywhere written in this form & see how common it is for companies to use this method of logo.

[flatrajectory]

Hi Pete,
It looks to me like it may be HC or HE rather than an Asian Character?

ATB,
Mark.

I don't think it is initials H E ,as the two letters ( if that's what they are)? are different sizes.
I am certain it is an eastern font or symbol
Pete.

[flatrajectory]

Keep the ideas coming chaps.......except binners, you are just being silly...!

[gingernut]

That's why we love him.

[DT Fletcher]

Rotate it 90 deg clockwise and it looks like an overlay of H and C. Initials of the owner, I would say.

[flatrajectory]

Rotate it 90 deg clockwise and it looks like an overlay of H and C. Initials of the owner, I would say.

Hmmmmm. ?.....There is also what appears to be a small letter L in the middle.......unless this is a mistake,or a scratch.....!

Now. Do Initials carved into wood or engraved into metalwork on a collectable airgun add to the interest/ history or de- value the item.......??????
Your views gentlemen.
Pete.

[martin bingham]

i suppose it would depend on who carved them

[Lakey]

Who or what would do that to a Webley Service Rifle. Bloody Philistine!! That has to be the Airgun equivalent of beating your initials into the bonnet of an E-type Jag, with a centre punch and block hammer. I nearly cried when I saw that !!!!!!

[flatrajectory]

Who or what would do that to a Webley Service Rifle. Bloody Philistine!! That has to be the Airgun equivalent of beating your initials into the bonnet of an E-type Jag, with a centre punch and block hammer. I nearly cried when I saw that !!!!!!

Especially when you remember that in the 1930's the Webley Service was a very expensive item, certainly purchased by only the well healed.
I can live with it because I have no intention of selling the rifle, or I have considered cutting out a circle or oval in its place and inletting a silver or brass plate to be engraved or not. More acceptible I think.
Pete.

[Shed tuner]

I'd sand them out.