We have just started to assemble this on going source of Proof . Knowledge of commonly used military ammunition assists To be sold legally, every cartridge firearm must bear valid proof marks. A voluminous schedule of rules and scales of charge for the proof of various kinds of small arms is in existence, and the proof is the same at London and at Birmingham; though different proof marks are employed. The CIPs current membership is 14: Austria, Belgium, Chile, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom. When they were made, all British guns had to be subjected to proof testing (they still are) to ensure that they were fit for purpose. Liege, in Belgium, has always been celebrated for its weapons, and established its proof house as a municipal enterprise on May 10, 1672, when it was laid down that barrels should be marked with the stamp of the city, and unproved weapons might not be sold under pain of a fine of a gold florin and the confiscation of the unproved barrel. Birmingham had also a proof, but this test was not obligatory, and makers evaded the tests. 12/7/2022, Ammunition for Collectors C-96 For various reasons, these have not been acceptable to the European commercial proof houses, and the weapons have to be fully proofed before they are legally saleable in those countries. You need to know how to read the different proof marks on guns and serial numbers to be able discover how old a gun is. 178 0 obj <>stream 0000055241 00000 n to identify antique arms from different parts of the world, we decided 0000001796 00000 n We have provided you There are a number of I would be grateful to any lover of arms who possesses authentic dated weapons, or has catalogued a private collection, if he would send to me, in care of my publishers, any such information which will add to the mass of fact available. Heavy percussion Kentucky rifle with H. Elwell lock, J. Tullea three spiked crown or mitre above a capital E (as shown below). In a nutshell, much can be determined about the origins and to a wide extent the date of manufacture of some shotguns just by examining the proofmarks. 0000010518 00000 n Before sending it to the proof house he will check that the action and barrels are jointed properly, that the ribs are sound and that the bores havent grown in diameter beyond laid-down limits, through either constant firing or overzealous cleaning, or both. Many countries have their own unique proof marks, so it is important to understand the origin before assessing the proof mark. Marking on an over-under, flintlock Kentucky rifle. 12/7/2022, Books for Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. Found in Scotland, ready for putting back together. Italy and Spain both build date codes in the proof information stamped on their guns. Flintlock Kentucky rifle of good workmanship. below are samples of Proof Marks of different countries. 0000102139 00000 n Late period flintlock Kentucky rifle with lock by Henry Parker. Remington Cast Steel barrel. proof marks. S. Army. 0000147394 00000 n Here, he explains their advantages and disadvantagesand how to use them safely. source of Manufacturer Serial Numbers. Possibly Ohio, crude, homemade percussion (possibly converted) fullstock rifle with strap-iron trigger guard. 0000001896 00000 n 2016 CP 2/6/2023, Handguns 3, 1st Model 44 Revolver. Marlin-Savage-Winchester 0000005765 00000 n 2015 CN 0000003320 00000 n Miroku of Japan, who make the traditionally-styled break-action Brownings, have adopted Brownings date coding system in their serial numbers. 0000016749 00000 n Smith & Wesson New Model No.3 Turkish .44 Revolver 1875. Markings on a full stock, percussion Kentucky rifle. This is a reliable indicator that the gun is a German Luger. individual armorers and inspectors used their own unique stamps in some This is, however, a very complex subject and requires much research and experience in the interpretation of the marks before accurate information can be obtained. These marks are customarily the cipher of the gunsmiths' guild and the mark of the State or city. This can be caused by corrosion, wear, excessive cleaning with abrasive material, or the deliberate removal of metal, for example, when a gun is rebored. Flintlock Kentucky rifles. To complicate matters further, modern reproductions of some of these old weapons have been produced, which are often virtually indistinguishable from the original. cases. Flintlock Kentucky rifle, stock finely inlaid with ivory, silver, and brass forestock in two sections. 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. Walnut halfstock percussion rifle of indifferent workmanship. A leading manufacturer of firearms, Ruger offers high-performance firearms. Possibly John Eberly, gunsmith under William Henry I, Lancaster, Pa., 1729-1786. The fourth the crossed branches, with the letters S.E.E., and a cross in their angles. Underneath the whole appears the word St. Etienne. The second is the crossed branches, with the letters A.E. Their proof marks are two feathers, or curved branches, crossed with letters in the angles of the cross so formed. Following the sale of Remington Outdoor Company's assets in September 2020, Vista Outdoor purchased Remington Ammunition. It ought to become a rule of the Commission Internationale Pour Lepreuve des Armes a Feu Portatives (CIP), which is the international organisation of proof houses. The third is a plain stamp, with the letters A.V.E. As the UK is a signatory of the International Proof Commission (CIP), it recognises the proof marks of every other member state. 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. 0000016410 00000 n 2/3/2023 French. Stamped on barrel of heavy halfstock Plains rifle with brass tube for ramrod socket. type Kentucky rifle with carved Roman nose stock. 0000003880 00000 n Ordinance and Proof Houses were established by law in almost every The Spanish system, as applied by the proof house in Eibar in the Basque Country is simpler. Russia Smith & Wesson Model 3 Russian 1st and 2nd Model .44 Revolver. This is a feature unique to German Lugers. 0000131632 00000 n Golcher lock. 0000129535 00000 n Double set-triggers; cut out patchbox. Possibly J. G. Full stock, flintlock Kentucky rifle with con verted lock marked "W. T. HOWELL & CO.". Many British-made shotguns carry Birmingham proofmarks, with London proofing mainly found on top-of-the-line British shotguns. U.S.A.Most pistols exported from the United States are not proof marked in their country of origin. Possibly Joseph Angstatt, Penna. 0000099472 00000 n Script monogram die-stamped on the barrel of a percussion Kentucky rifle with engraved patchbox. 0000086754 00000 n 0000001156 00000 n 10/25/2022 Smith & Wesson Model 3 Russian 2nd and 3rd Model.44 Revolver. Besides these national collections, there are many municipal and private galleries whose curators have formed most excellent catalogues, but in the main this knowledge is uncoordinated. Weapons bearing military proof marks have thus to be commercially proofed before they can be legally sold in those countries. Bookmark 0000011101 00000 n Even 40mm UBGLs are proofed using a lead shot loaded projectile instead of High Explosive. 0000000016 00000 n 2011 CH Check for destructive test marks. To be sure, American-made shotguns are plenty strong, almost to a fault, and following proofing are stamped with the individual manufacturer's proofmark. 2017 CS. 0000015263 00000 n St. Etienne, in France, established its proof house in the reign of Francis I., at the beginning of the sixteenth century. startxref 2007 CB Relevant Documents to Have. 0000008549 00000 n Generally, this calls for between 30 and 50% increase in pressure over the standard round of ammunition. Want to buy a single issue of Shooting Times, Sporting Gun or Airgun Shooter? 0000010816 00000 n Marking on superposed, percussion Kentucky type rifle. referred to more commonly as "Proof Marks", (Read more on buying a gun at auction.). & 0000111269 00000 n These, once again, are not accepted by the. Taylerson, John M. Taylor and John Treakle. 0000113366 00000 n At present, these include Austria, Belgium, Chile, Czechoslovakia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Republic of Ireland, Spain and the United Kingdom. 0 barrel began as a means to insure its safety and integrity. 2005 BZ The majority of those operational proof marks had no sense and meaning in a short scale production period and are senseless for future research. 2013 CL Marking on a Model 1795 musket lockplate. 0000104236 00000 n Book of Gun Values by S.P. reference books that display proof marks and their meanings. A. Proofmarks could be a story or a book themselves. Penna. 0000013830 00000 n Google Italian proof house date codes and you can find tables going back to 1945. There are also a number of countries which have a separate military proofing system for service weapons. Bargain Middletown, Conn. Percussion under-hammer pistols. 1750-1850 - Dueling pistols come into fashion . Search 2006 CA 12/7/2022, Foreign Militaria (Other) 2008 CC Different countries have different codes. 0000134772 00000 n Curly maple, full stock, brass trim, percussion Kentucky rifle engraved "J.S.T." %PDF-1.6 % I have recently aquired a nice old single barrel shotgun, I think it is Spanish and can find various proof marks on the barrel. Published by Vintage Guns Ltd on 28th June 2019. Engraved on barrel of very early Kentucky or German rifle of Edward Marshall, who participated in the historic "Indian Walk" Pennsylvania land purchase of 1737. Basement 0000115678 00000 n On one spesimen the patchbox lid is engraved "BERLIN" in script. There are basically three types of proof: provisional proof, definitive proof and reproof. Proof mark on a late percussion Kentucky rifle barrel bored out smooth to .69 caliber, with Jas. Proof marks are the official stamps or ciphers showing that a barrel has been properly tested with the prescribed excess charges of powder and ball that allow a large factor of safety to the user. 0000084840 00000 n How are guns proofed and how do you tell? 0000006260 00000 n Silver and coins! 0000049974 00000 n Many inexpensive shotguns were imported from Belgium for resale in this country, and bear those proofmarks. Middle flintlock period Kentucky rifles of fine workmanship. Search 2006 CA 12/7/2022, Foreign Militaria ( Other ) 2008 CC different countries have different codes n Curly,..., stock finely inlaid with ivory, silver, and brass forestock in two.... Proofed using a lead shot loaded projectile instead of High Explosive on one spesimen the patchbox lid is engraved BERLIN. 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Handguns 3, 1st Model 44 Revolver x27 ; guild and the mark of the gunsmiths & # ;... Below are samples of proof marks, so it is important to understand origin... Was not obligatory, and brass forestock in two sections proofed and how do tell. Letters in the angles of the gunsmiths & # x27 ; guild and the of... Means to insure its safety and integrity, full stock, percussion Kentucky rifle engraved `` BERLIN '' in.. That display proof marks '', ( Read more on buying a gun at auction. ) 30 50. The barrel of a percussion Kentucky rifle with lock by Henry Parker american gun proof marks sale! Remington ammunition '', ( Read more on buying a gun at auction..! Engraved patchbox, homemade percussion ( possibly converted ) fullstock rifle with verted!
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