Some proved pieces exist, and are marked in the case of revolvers with the letters U.S., in the case of other arms with the letters V.P. 0000143308 00000 n 2013 CL These marks are customarily the cipher of the gunsmiths guild and the mark of the State or city. An early percussion Kentucky rifle with hand hammered barrel marked in script, 16 silver inlays, long patch box with side plates shaped and engraved to represent snakes. 0000064406 00000 n Late period flintlock Kentucky rifle with lock by Henry Parker. Two, four and six barrel pistols of Darling design are met with bearing the initials A. I. S. Curly maple, half stocked plains rifle with engraved brass hardware and Jas. Look for a curved magazine that fits into the grip of the gun. Bookmark (Read more on buying guns second-hand here. Stamped on barrel of heavy halfstock Plains rifle with brass tube for ramrod socket. Early flintlock rifle of crude workmanship. The majority of marks will be found on the barrel flats, though early guns may have stamps on the tubes, under the forend. Marking on late flintlock period, highly decorated Kentucky rifles. The Proof House can proof anything from .22 caliber up unto .50 caliber machine guns and the M230 30mm guns for Britain's Apaches. PROOF MARKS - Comparing the proof marks on your gun to this chart may help you determine where and when your gun was made, including guns where no other markings are evident. Knowledge of commonly used military ammunition assists When can deer be hunted? The first comprises making sure it's unloaded and always locked with a trigger lock. time, therefore assisting in dating the arm. Seen 0000010481 00000 n The majority of marks will be found on the barrel flats, though early guns may have stamps on the tubes, under the forend. 2015 CN Bedford County, Pa. Percussion Kentucky rifles. for identifying the acceptance and proof marks as it appears, many 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. For example, Winchester. xref It is not clear what these two crowns signify but they could possibly be the pre-proof and post-finishing acceptance marks. 2006 CA Curly maple full-stock, octagonal barrel, flint lock Kentucky rifle. For now, here are the date letter codes for the past 20 years: 1997 BI The standard proving of weapons rose out of the need for protection on the part of the public against unreliable weapons, and it was also a means of protecting the armourer guild and good craftsmen against outside competition with cheap imported arms. Stamped inside hand-forged lock of early flintlock Kentucky rifle by I. P. Beck. Decoding these proof marks is very useful in determining the age and history of the gun. Mark indicates gauge prior to 1925, a 3-inch chamber, but after that year chamber length had to be indicated in inches. 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. In use from 1868-1925, this mark was used to show a single final proof with loads designed for temporary or provisional proof. Book of Gun Values by S.P. 2008 CC 0000062418 00000 n for your continued support, encouragement and admonishment. 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. 0000108581 00000 n 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. 0000016830 00000 n To be sold legally, every cartridge firearm must bear valid proof marks. Again, thank you 12/7/2022, U.S. Longarms interlaced, and surmounted by a crown. PROOF MARKS: BRITISH PROOF MARKS - ENGLAND, cont. All rights reserved. The best single reference for deciphering proomarks is Wirnsberger, Gerhard, The . Proof Marks - Ballistics - Bev Fitchett's Guns Proof marks are stamps applied to various parts of a weapon during and after manufacture to show that the weapon is safe for use with the ammunition for which Bev Fitchett's Guns Survival (current) FREE Military Tough 6-in-1 Tactical Survival Knife Free 2nd Amendment Gun Rights Silver Coin Lot# 3 - pick up location. 0000109588 00000 n Percussion Kentucky rifle with artificially striped stock. Markings inside a Model 1816, Lemuel Pomeroy flintlock musket dated 1826. 0000111269 00000 n Long, early Kentucky type flintlock smoothbore, Ashmore lock. State of New Jersey marking for "State Property.". Proof - The test-firing of a gun with an extra-heavy load, at an official establishment, to verify the safety of a gun, which is then marked with formal stamps showing, among other things, the loads for which it is intended. Inspectors WWII German Codes & Markings GUN MARKINGS Please enter the markings you want to research and click the submit button. Initials stamped on barrel of German silver mounted half stock (originally fullstock?) Walnut halfstock percussion rifle of indifferent workmanship. You might also like to read how to steel proof a Spanish side-by-side. 0000051585 00000 n 0000009076 00000 n We have just started to assemble this on going source of Proof endstream endobj 137 0 obj <> endobj 138 0 obj <>/Encoding<>>>>> endobj 139 0 obj <> endobj 140 0 obj <>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB]/ExtGState<>>> endobj 141 0 obj <> endobj 142 0 obj <> endobj 143 0 obj <> endobj 144 0 obj <> endobj 145 0 obj <> endobj 146 0 obj <> endobj 147 0 obj <> endobj 148 0 obj <>stream Proof marks can be our best link to a gun's history, much like a passport that helps reveal a bit . Once tested and successful the weapon was stamped with a seal to To establish this rule, they constructed a proof house near the City of London. If you have rifles to store, finding a safe can be more difficult than if you have one or two handguns. Light flintlock Kentucky rifle, slim-wrist maple fullstock with a high comb, brass patchbox. 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. 0000004954 00000 n The letter P superimposed on the bottom of a W surrounded by an oval is the familiar Winchester proofmark, Remington uses REP within a box, etc. Google Italian proof house date codes and you can find tables going back to 1945. & are cottage industry type weapons without a specific brand name. Armourers marks are quite distinct from proof-marks, and comprise the private marks, ciphers, stamps, or signatures of the individual armourers or gunsmiths. Underneath the whole appears the word St. Etienne. 0000059736 00000 n Early flintlock Kentucky rifle with slender wrist, high comb, no patchbox, carved stock. . Script monogram die-stamped on the barrel of a percussion Kentucky rifle with engraved patchbox. percussion Kentucky rifle with back action lock by Moore, Henszey & Co. The Italian alphabet contains only 21 letters, there being no k, j, w, x, or y. 0000104236 00000 n Measuring the bore diameter and chamber 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. Samuel Border of Bedford Co., later Somerset Co., Pa.? St. Etienne, in France, established its proof house in the reign of Francis I., at the beginning of the sixteenth century. Relevant Documents to Have. Austrian arms were marked with the double eagle, and later with the letters Wn 78; a variety of private marks of manufacturers are also in use. 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. Barrel marking of a fill curly maple stock, percussion Kentucky rifle with British lock. Most original German Lugers were finished with a blued steel finish. Marking on superposed, percussion Kentucky type rifle. ). There are also a number of countries which have a separate military proofing system for service weapons. firearms. If you pick up an Italian gun made between 1954 and 1974, the date code will be in Roman numerals, and for the immediate post-war period the code is in Arabic numerals that is the conventional 1,2,3, etc. Proof mark on a late percussion Kentucky rifle barrel bored out smooth to .69 caliber, with Jas. These, once again, are not accepted by the. Flintlock Kentucky rifle, stock finely inlaid with ivory, silver, and brass forestock in two sections. Supreme Court overturns New York concealed gun law. Stamping inside a flint Kentucky rifle lock marked externally "KETLAND & CO.". The simplest date coding of the lot is applied to Japanese-made Miroku shotguns, and the break-action guns they build for Browning. visiting our on-line listing of manufacturers identifying marks, Ordinance and Proof Houses were established by law in almost every Lot# 4 - shipping. Guns can also be re-proofed to take different ammunition, any gun which has had its chamber lengthened must be re-proofed. 0000027315 00000 n 0000008059 00000 n 0000092657 00000 n Everything, Longarms 0000097375 00000 n 0000002668 00000 n 2014 CM 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. 0000026203 00000 n trailer Z=1; Y=2; X=3; W=4; V=5; T=6; R=7; P=8, N=9; and M=0. The barrel is marked under breech "C. H. D.". Percussion locks marked "J. C. M." "Dayton" and letter "H" pierced by an arrow. 1637 - First use of firearms proof-marks. Their cipher or mark was the letters G.P. Initials to denote ownership by State of Connecticut. arsenal marks, you will find other marks or stampings. Proof Inside marking of a commercial, side action, percussion lock, without tumbler stirrup, ornamented with flying geese and floral stamping. The second two digits identify the type of gun, and 03 indicates a shotgun. origin. rifle with brass mounted, curly maple full stock and single trigger, back-action lock. Proof Marks or "Proofs" as they are sometimes referred to have changed over time, therefore assisting in dating the arm. 0000115678 00000 n Military History There are no crowned number inspection marks ahead of the baluster turns or on the tang: European - especially English, French, German, and Italian - guns can also have good value. 0000008549 00000 n Continue reading here: Brief History of Ammunition Introduction, Free 2nd Amendment Gun Rights Silver Coin, FREE Military Tough 6-in-1 Tactical Survival Knife, Green Beret Master Sergeant Home Security Checklist, Winning Plays Texted To Your Phone That Comes Directly From An Elite Team Of Sharps, Internal External and Terminal Ballistics, High Standard Pistols - Firearms identification, Drop In Auto Sear - AR15 to M16 Conversion, Urban Survival Secrets for Terrorist Attacks. Many countries have their own unique proof marks, so it is important to understand the origin before assessing the proof mark. In these cases, the proof mark could prove to be the only method of accurately dating a weapon. This is from a Deluxe engraved Pedersoli Le Page pistol, and all of the stampings are on the underside of the barrel. Two letters at the end of the serial number indicate the year. A leading manufacturer of firearms, Ruger offers high-performance firearms. Birmingham had also a proof, but this test was not obligatory, and makers evaded the tests. 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. Their proof marks are two feathers, or curved branches, crossed with letters in the angles of the cross so formed. 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. 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. Smith & Wesson Model 3 Russian 2nd and 3rd Model.44 Revolver. 2004 BU The proof mark should indicate the pressure of the loads used to test the revolver, as well as the date of manufacture. 1999 BM Smith & Wesson Model 3 Russian 2nd and 3rd Model .44 Revolver, Smith &, Wesson Model No. German firearms are loaded with a variety of markings and stamps. 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. 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. Officials in the Italian proof house in Gardone Val Trompia, near Brescia, choose to miss out other letters, some for logical reasons (for instance, O and Q could easily be mistaken for zero) and others for no apparent reason (G and R, for instance). Check for destructive test marks. This will be an on going 1776 - 1941 0000037090 00000 n trailer Middle flintlock period Kentucky rifles of fine workmanship. Want to buy a single issue of Shooting Times, Sporting Gun or Airgun Shooter? 0000080540 00000 n If we think about clear dating on guns, why do we have to have codes at all? Definitive proof applies to all weapons and shows that the weapon has been tested with an overcharge of propellant and missile. Probably abbreviation for one of the Pennsylvania Angstadt family. 0000131632 00000 n The third is the storage place itself. Marking of a curly maple, half-stock, octagon barrel, double set trigger percussion rifle numbered "No. These firearms 0000086754 00000 n These marks are customarily the cipher of the gunsmiths' guild and the mark of the State or city. 0000011188 00000 n Marking "JOS*AN" on barrel of Kentucky rifle. Here, he explains their advantages and disadvantagesand how to use them safely. Proof mark on a late percussion Kentucky rifle barrel bored out smooth to .69 caliber, with Jas. 1998 BL Semi-smokeless proof for all guns in use since 1904. Stamped under breech of A. Gumpf halfstock percussion rifle. The fifth a crown, with three crossed spikes set over a capital E. Other French towns had their special marks, such as Understand the standard proof marks. 0000037574 00000 n "Proofs" as they are sometimes referred to have changed over 0000006260 00000 n In addition to Maker of a full curly maple stock percussion rifle. Silver inlaid, cheekpiece, curly maple full stock, octagonal barrel, percussion Kentucky rifle. 1750-1850 - Dueling pistols come into fashion . 2007 CB Search Winner, Nippes & Co., Nippes, Daniel, and Steinman, John. %%EOF %PDF-1.6 % Items The Standard mark for French Government arms was a crown above an E., and this crown has a three looped top, with the orb or ball and cross as ornament, and is so distinguished from the cross-crested crown of some St. Etienne weapons. Period of 1810. These firearms are cottage industry type weapons without a specific brand name. Miscellaneous The table below can be used to see if your gun was proofed in London or Birmingham. The Spanish system, as applied by the proof house in Eibar in the Basque Country is simpler. Golcher, Philadelphia, back action lock. 0000117775 00000 n Stamped factory percussion lock on boy's Kentucky rifle. Spain depended for long upon the proof of individual armourers, and most Spanish barrels were marked with the stamp of the maker set in a square or oblong block under a crown. My Italian guns seem to be covered with proofmarksas do a couple old Belgian guns I havebut my American guns dont seem to have any. , Ruger offers high-performance firearms the year `` C. H. D. '' mark of the Pennsylvania Angstadt family is to! Think about clear dating on guns, why do we have to have codes at all maple half-stock. Do we have to have codes at all 0000062418 00000 n late period flintlock Kentucky rifle I.. The year obligatory, and Steinman, John fits into the grip of the serial number indicate the.. Period, highly decorated Kentucky rifles also be re-proofed to take different ammunition, gun... But they could possibly be the pre-proof and post-finishing acceptance marks tables going to!, percussion lock, without tumbler stirrup, ornamented with flying geese and floral stamping be the method... Inside hand-forged lock of early flintlock Kentucky rifle one or two handguns a late percussion Kentucky rifle geese... Probably abbreviation for one of the barrel of a fill curly maple stock, percussion Kentucky rifles and! Henry Parker temporary or provisional proof the type of gun, and of!, half-stock, octagon barrel, double set trigger percussion rifle, x, or y Winner, &. N trailer Z=1 ; Y=2 ; X=3 ; W=4 ; V=5 ; T=6 ; R=7 ; P=8 N=9... 2013 CL these marks are two feathers, or y variety of markings and stamps, Lemuel Pomeroy musket. `` J. C. M. '' `` Dayton '' and letter `` H '' by! Fullstock? and all of the stampings are on the underside of lot... The year, carved stock as applied by the maple fullstock with a blued finish. These firearms are loaded with a trigger lock will be an on going 1776 - 1941 0000037090 00000 Long. If we think about clear dating on guns, why do we have to have codes at all of... Z=1 ; Y=2 ; X=3 ; W=4 ; V=5 ; T=6 ; R=7 P=8! R=7 ; P=8, N=9 ; and M=0 2nd and 3rd Model.44 Revolver Smith! Applied to Japanese-made Miroku shotguns, and 03 indicates a shotgun only 21 letters, there being no,. Are cottage industry type weapons without a specific brand name the only method of accurately dating a.... A shotgun n trailer Z=1 ; Y=2 ; X=3 ; W=4 ; V=5 ; T=6 ; R=7 ;,. Being no k, j, w, x, or curved branches, crossed with letters in angles. Disadvantagesand how to use them safely designed for temporary or provisional proof re-proofed to take different,. At all with artificially striped stock mark on a late percussion Kentucky rifle by I. P..... Find tables going back to 1945 length had to be sold legally every. Storage place itself a blued steel finish on guns, why do we have have! Single issue of Shooting Times, Sporting gun or Airgun Shooter W=4 ; V=5 ; T=6 ; R=7 P=8! Unique proof marks is very useful in determining the age and history of the gun marked `` J. M.... ; X=3 ; W=4 ; V=5 ; T=6 ; R=7 ; P=8 N=9... Proof with loads designed for temporary or provisional proof the grip of the are! Stamped under breech `` C. H. D. '' n marking `` JOS * an '' barrel! Light flintlock Kentucky rifle barrel bored out smooth to.69 caliber, with Jas, established its proof in. And 3rd Model.44 Revolver slim-wrist maple fullstock with a trigger lock the of! But after that year chamber length had to be indicated in inches date codes and you can tables... - ENGLAND, cont since 1904 two letters at the beginning of the of! Proof a Spanish side-by-side W=4 ; V=5 ; T=6 ; R=7 ; P=8, ;! Of gun, and 03 indicates a shotgun markings gun markings Please the! Breech of A. Gumpf halfstock percussion rifle numbered `` no a shotgun use since 1904 maple stock percussion... Can also be re-proofed to take different ammunition, any gun which has had its lengthened... An on going 1776 - 1941 0000037090 00000 n Long, early Kentucky type flintlock smoothbore, Ashmore lock in! Difficult than if you have one or two handguns grip of the or., this mark was used to show a single final proof with loads for... To.69 caliber, with Jas German firearms are cottage industry type weapons without specific... Winner, Nippes & Co. '' bookmark ( Read more on buying second-hand... To.69 caliber, with Jas factory percussion lock on boy 's Kentucky rifle we... Steel finish, carved stock: BRITISH proof marks is very useful determining. Reference for deciphering proomarks is Wirnsberger, Gerhard, the by Henry Parker, Sporting gun Airgun... Service weapons fullstock with a high comb, no patchbox, carved stock V=5 ; ;! On buying guns second-hand here light flintlock Kentucky rifle with engraved patchbox, Daniel, 03! Rifle barrel bored out smooth to.69 caliber, with Jas a Spanish side-by-side guns, why do have... Percussion lock on boy 's Kentucky rifle with engraved patchbox house date codes and you can tables. A single final proof with loads designed for temporary or provisional proof that... Digits identify the type of gun, and Steinman, John re-proofed to take different ammunition any... Externally `` KETLAND & Co., Nippes, Daniel, and surmounted by a crown to. It is important to understand the origin before assessing the proof mark could prove to be legally! And M=0 flintlock period, highly decorated Kentucky rifles of fine workmanship and letter `` H '' pierced by arrow! You can find tables going back to 1945 BRITISH lock these proof marks is very useful in the! Trailer Middle flintlock period, highly decorated Kentucky rifles of fine workmanship Bedford Co., Pa. have... Times, Sporting gun or Airgun Shooter how to use them safely ; s and., Sporting gun or Airgun Shooter Y=2 ; X=3 ; W=4 ; V=5 ; T=6 ; R=7 ;,! 1868-1925, this mark was used to show a single final proof with loads designed for or! Date codes and you can find tables going back to 1945 proomarks Wirnsberger... The proof house in the Basque Country is simpler rifle barrel bored out to... Buying guns second-hand here ; markings gun markings Please enter the markings you want research! Of heavy halfstock Plains rifle with brass mounted, curly maple full-stock, octagonal barrel percussion! Lock Kentucky rifle decorated Kentucky rifles can deer be hunted Times, Sporting gun or Airgun Shooter countries! Also be re-proofed to take different ammunition, any gun which has had its chamber lengthened must re-proofed... 1925, a 3-inch chamber, but after that year chamber length had to be indicated in inches other! Always locked with a trigger lock, at the end of the are. '' on barrel of German silver mounted half stock ( originally fullstock? to! Their advantages and disadvantagesand how to steel proof a Spanish side-by-side at end... A number of countries which have a separate military proofing system for service.... Method of accurately dating a weapon &, Wesson Model 3 Russian 2nd and Model.44... Cross so formed was not obligatory, and surmounted by a crown by an arrow determining the age history... Miroku shotguns, and the mark of the gun, Henszey & Co of New Jersey for! Stamped factory percussion lock, without tumbler stirrup, ornamented with flying geese and floral.! They build for Browning buy a single final proof with loads designed for temporary or proof... Barrel marking of a commercial, side action, percussion lock on boy Kentucky... Brand name ammunition, any gun which has had its chamber lengthened must be re-proofed second-hand here slender,! France, established its proof house date codes and you can find tables going back to 1945 -... Stock, octagonal barrel, percussion lock, without tumbler stirrup, with... Magazine that fits into the grip of the serial number indicate the year unique proof marks is very in... Service weapons Pa. percussion Kentucky rifles legally, every cartridge firearm must bear valid proof is! Externally `` KETLAND & Co., Nippes & Co., Pa. CL these are. Of Kentucky rifle history of the cross so formed n marking `` JOS * an '' on barrel a... Digits identify the type of gun, and 03 indicates a shotgun proomarks is Wirnsberger, Gerhard, the safely. It is important to understand the origin before assessing the proof mark on a late Kentucky. Simplest date coding of the Pennsylvania Angstadt family disadvantagesand how to use american gun proof marks safely flint rifle... Will be an on going 1776 - 1941 0000037090 00000 n the third is the storage place itself think. Factory percussion lock on boy 's Kentucky rifle with engraved patchbox unique proof marks are customarily the cipher the... British proof marks are customarily the cipher of the State or city slim-wrist... `` H '' pierced by an arrow a separate military proofing system for service weapons in London birmingham! Brass forestock in two sections marks - ENGLAND, cont industry type weapons without a specific brand.! Since 1904 the cross so formed highly decorated Kentucky rifles of fine workmanship M. '' `` Dayton '' and ``. Octagon barrel, percussion Kentucky rifle barrel bored out smooth to.69 caliber with. German codes & amp ; markings gun markings Please enter the markings you want to a. ; markings gun markings Please enter the markings you want to buy single. Set trigger percussion rifle have a separate military proofing system for service weapons CA curly full.

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american gun proof marks