Translation help, please. (Farsi??)
 

Good morning Gentlemen.

A friend purchased a Martini -Henry carbine recently, and it has a well inscribed text on the receiver.
Can anyone here tell me what it says??

Thank you for your time!

Richard.

Hi Richard. A pic of the whole gun would be nice..........
Stu

Yes, if you want a translation, you need to post picture of the whole piece.

Here you go, Gents.
The photos are not mine, but the owner doesn't mind me attaching them here.
Any help most appreciated!

Nice gun. I always feel like getting into guns but shipping them seems like a nightmare!!

One side says Ma Sha Allah. The other.. I cant read it. Maybe someone who can read Persian can have better luck.

Hi Richard.
Interesting gun. Do we know who K P Lodhavaia is? A local maker of copy Martinis???
Stu

Thank you for the replies.

A.alnakkas,

So what would Ma Sha Allah mean exactly?
I well understand "Allah", but how this relates to the first two words I don't understand.

Rick,
I'll ask him about proof marks.........might say in his thread on the other forum... will let you know.

it does not look like Farsi to me, maybe Turkish or some other language.

Stu,

The proof marks are Birmingham, and the retailer's name stamped on the barrel was in Bombay..

Found the translation to the meaning, "God has willed it".

Thanks Richard,
I was aware of the existence of retailers of British arms during the Raj, but could not find this one in my books. I would assume it is a "civilian" item rather than military.
Stu

Yes, Private purchase Stu.