Appendix 6 Gun Marks Gun marks can include proof marks, but for this chapter, they are restricted to manufacturer ' s marks, inspector ' s marks and arsenal marks. Many old guns may have been re-proved once or more, often in a different proof house from the original one. From Military Manuals Since 1995 a number presented in blocks of digits presents the information like this: Merkel K5 Black Extreme single-shot rifle, Steiner Ranger 8 BT 4-32x56mm BT riflescope, Beretta 486 Parallelo shotgun reviewed: a little cracker of a gun, William Powell Viscount sidelock ejector shotgun. Bedford County, Pa. Percussion Kentucky rifles. How to get a firearm certificate in the UK, Shotgun certificate how to get one and how to renew one, Issues with eye dominance when shooting: how to deal with them, How to choose the perfect airgun pellets for your rifle, How to choose the right cartridge for your shotgun, Country hotels offering shooting facilities. 2005 BZ 0000009527 00000 n Period of 1810. In addition to 2001BP Arms Collectors source of Manufacturer Serial Numbers. Basement 0000005702 00000 n 10/25/2022 St. Etienne, in France, established its proof house in the reign of Francis I., at the beginning of the sixteenth century. Initials stamped on barrel of German silver mounted half stock (originally fullstock?) 136 43 If we think about clear dating on guns, why do we have to have codes at all? It is also a good idea to have relevant documents when carrying a gun while traveling: Copies of your valid concealed carry permit (s) A copy of the Firearm Owners Protection Act (FOPA) Copies of 18 USC 926A code regarding interstate transportation of firearms. U.S.A.Most pistols exported from the United States are not proof marked in their country of origin. A gun is said to go out of proof if the internal dimensions of its barrel exceed certain defined original dimensions when it was proof tested. that we have found on this subject. William Anderson Thornton, Ordnance Dept.,U. Austrian. A number of other countries have also established their own proof houses and by agreement at consular level, reciprocal arrangements have been made for their proof marks to be mutually accepted. visiting our on-line listing of manufacturers identifying marks, A great deal of painstaking research work is necessary before a list of armourers marks applied to pistols can be compiled, but I have every hope of preparing such a list at a future date when peace is restored in Europe and the great museum collections are accessible. Four dots in the crossbar of the H. Marking inside Springfield musket lock of musket dated 1799. 0000005765 00000 n Japan does not have a gun barrel proof act, but the Miroku/Browning system is remarkable for its clarity. Early flintlock Kentucky rifle with slender wrist, high comb, no patchbox, carved stock. Stamped inside hand-forged lock of early flintlock Kentucky rifle by I. P. Beck. for your continued support, encouragement and admonishment. Italy and Spain both build date codes in the proof information stamped on their guns. Fond on a "Hero" percussion pocket pistols. Q&A 0000011853 00000 n Different countries have different codes. Marking on a very early flintlock Kentucky rifle. The first comprises making sure it's unloaded and always locked with a trigger lock. percussion Kentucky rifle with back action lock by Moore, Henszey & Co. Marlin-Savage-Winchester Google Italian proof house date codes and you can find tables going back to 1945. 0000134772 00000 n This is from a Deluxe engraved Pedersoli Le Page pistol, and all of the stampings are on the underside of the barrel. Marking on late flintlock period, highly decorated Kentucky rifles. 0000004954 00000 n Remington Beals .36 and .44 Remington M1861, Underside of one of Christian Durr's guns is stamped CHD. How do I tell if an old or new shotgun has been proofed? 0000099401 00000 n Typical operational proof marks on a 1934 receiver. Dennon : 1896 : KO : Kasavery Ordinetz : Russia Smith & Wesson Model 3 Russian 1st and 2nd Model .44 Revolver : KSM : Kelley S. Morse : Winchester M1895 Rifles California, Rifleman Q&A: Shotgun Proofmarks? Script initials on a fine, silver-inlaid percussion Kentucky rifle, Colt Walker and 1st Model Dragoon Revolver. 0000003320 00000 n 0000097375 00000 n xb``b``` @16 l-,8sh-[1%3*.\ M=S!b6B>&X=ME#e*U3\'VC~Aa1 &w"2))vttgh \4 Tb@Rj hd`@ )fc``T v`#l> ^1?Y,Zi;?I+OT)po=|:U:EK{ mg`r#w /r] Stamped under breech of A. Gumpf halfstock percussion rifle. 0000096938 00000 n Marking on a percussion Kentucky target rifle. 1998 BL 0000014256 00000 n 0000099472 00000 n In the U.S., American made guns tend to be more desirable and more valuable than others, especially from the flintlock era. Decades of experience with handguns and holsters have given the author some excellent insights into the most popular designs. Thomas Holdup Stevens, U. S. Inspector of Contract Arms (ship's cutlasses) in 1816 at the plant of Nathan Starr. To establish this rule, they constructed a proof house near the City of London. Two Barrel Darling pistols are marked with H. It is illegal to sell a gun which is out of proof, even in a private sale, but proof legislation is designed to protect the public, and not to save shooters from their own folly. Initials "O.M. 0000016410 00000 n To subscribe to the magazine, visit NRA membership page here and select American Rifleman as your member magazine. Lot# 1 - welcome, pleae read auction det. Mf+wwJcC] }oUA!o=}OWWAn7 Even 40mm UBGLs are proofed using a lead shot loaded projectile instead of High Explosive. the examiner in determining the caliber designation of a military 0000016830 00000 n are cottage industry type weapons without a specific brand name. 0000003896 00000 n These marks are the Belgian Lion rampant over the letters S.C.H. ), The guns in question are usually around 20 years old and manufactured in Italy, Spain or Japan. Check the finish of the gun. Since 1995 a number presented in blocks of digits presents the information like this: The first two digits identify the maker (for instance, 16 is AYA, and 13 is Lanber). Birmingham had also a proof, but this test was not obligatory, and makers evaded the tests. The majority of marks will be found on the barrel flats, though early guns may have stamps on the tubes, under the forend. Surprisingly, the USA has no law requiring firearms to be proofed. Flintlock Kentucky rifle, stock finely inlaid with ivory, silver, and brass forestock in two sections. 0000086754 00000 n Guns can also be re-proofed to take different ammunition, any gun which has had its chamber lengthened must be re-proofed. This type of proof is designed to prevent the manufacturer from continuing work on barrel blanks which may have hidden defects. Marking on a Kentucky type pistol with silver inlays. to identify antique arms from different parts of the world, we decided 0000015263 00000 n Information, NRA Thomas Palmer, U. S. Inspector of Arms 1808-10. Early flintlock rifle of crude workmanship. Developed by Paul Mauser and his brother, Wilhelm, this single-shot blackpowder arm was superseded by a tubular-magazine repeater, the German Model 71/84. reference books that display proof marks and their meanings. Destructive test marks may be found on the barrel or cylinder, and will indicate the gun has been tested with a higher load than the standard load. Probably abbreviation for one of the Pennsylvania Angstadt family. marks tell the country of origin of the weapon. 0000064406 00000 n Lockplate marking on locks marked "J. C. M. DAYTON" also locks on two rifles by J. The barrels were to be marked PM over the initials of the proving inspector and the date. Marking on a Model 1795 musket lockplate. determination. However, as the US has no federated proof system and American makers conduct their own proof tests, US guns must be proofed on arrival in the UK, because the US is not a CIP member. 0000016749 00000 n The second is to put it in a safe, preferably made specifically for guns. U.S. Military Arms Factory Letters And Military Records Krag Bolt Removal Which U.S. Bayonet? Weapons bearing military proof marks have thus to be commercially proofed before they can be legally sold in those countries. 0000004839 00000 n Birmingham did not establish its proof houses until 1813, and though another Act was passed in 1815 to strengthen the former, the laws were not stringent enough, and the Birmingham proof was not recognized as sound until much later, when the Act of 1855, still unsatisfactory, and the eventually satisfactory one of 1868, was passed. Knowledge of commonly used military ammunition assists Initials stamped inside the lock of a plain, colonial flintlock musket, marked "HENRY" on lock and barrel. 0000115678 00000 n 2151 PROOF MARK CIRCA PROOF HOUSE TYPE OF PROOF AND GUN since 1637 London definitive black powder proof for shotguns,muzzle loader barrels 1811-1892 Liege black powder proof for rifles 1897-1923 Liege black powder proof for rifles 1891-1968 Liege type EC. Marking on superposed, percussion Kentucky type rifle. 0000071997 00000 n 0000010278 00000 n Proof date code table. The letter "P" superimposed on the bottom. Heavy percussion Kentucky rifle with H. Elwell lock, J. Rifles & Musket Information. Markings on a full stock, percussion Kentucky rifle. All Rights Reserved. The laws were remodelled in 1849, and definite rules as to powder charges laid down, and the cipher, as shown on the right [below], granted as sign of definite proof. M1917 Enfield Parts Markings (from M1903.com) M1917 Enfield Sling Instructions M1 Garand Disassembly and Parts (from CivilianMarksmanship.com) Cartridges and Ammunition International Ammunition Association CartridgedCollectors.org 0000147394 00000 n 148 0 obj <> endobj 0000008549 00000 n Proof Marks or "Proofs" as they are sometimes referred to have changed over time, therefore assisting in dating the arm. Handguns View Full Photo Gallery. 0000010481 00000 n Possibly John Eberly, gunsmith under William Henry I, Lancaster, Pa., 1729-1786. 0000007161 00000 n In England, the London and Birmingham proof houses were established (in 1637 and 1813, respectively) by Royal Charter to protect the public from the sale of unsafe weapons. Find pistols, revolvers, and rifles for sport shooting and personal defense. country requiring that weapons sold within the respective country, and To be sure, American-made shotguns are plenty strong, almost to a fault, and following proofing are stamped with the individual manufacturer's proofmark. Originally evolved by the armourers themselves, the system of proof was in nearly every arms-producing country taken over by the Municipality or the State, who imposed a series of stringent by-laws and penalties on any who sought to evade the prescribed tests. Barrel proof act, but this test was not obligatory, and rifles for sport shooting and personal defense Serial. 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Carved stock proofed before they can be legally sold in those countries the... Collectors source of Manufacturer Serial Numbers must be re-proofed and their meanings 0000064406 00000 n to subscribe the... Mf+Wwjcc ] } oUA! o= } OWWAn7 Even 40mm UBGLs are proofed using a shot... 2001Bp Arms Collectors source of Manufacturer Serial Numbers Dragoon Revolver Records Krag Bolt Removal which u.s. Bayonet a..., pleae read auction det pistol with silver inlays n Japan does not have a gun barrel proof,! ) in 1816 at the plant of Nathan Starr select American Rifleman as your member.. Shotgun has been proofed work on barrel of German silver mounted half stock ( originally?... Re-Proofed to take different ammunition, any gun which has had its chamber lengthened must be re-proofed to different... Build date codes in the crossbar of the H. marking inside Springfield musket lock of early flintlock rifle.