american gun proof marks

0000086754 00000 n 2011 CH Proof date code table. in script on octagonal barrel. 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] Reported first used in 1877 in Moravia, Iowa. KLH : M1855 Springfield Musket : 1858 : KMD : K.M. Marks on the gun indicate that it was used by German mercenaries during the American Revolution. A number of other countries have their own forms of proof, either in-house or centrally run. The proof marks for Eibar, in Spain, are the letters Po, surmounted by a crown. 0000037090 00000 n The Spanish system, as applied by the proof house in Eibar in the Basque Country is simpler. Applies primarily to guns made outside the U.S. Information courtesy of The Blue Book of Gun Values by S.P. St. Etienne, in France, established its proof house in the reign of Francis I., at the beginning of the sixteenth century. 0000001752 00000 n Many countries have specific exemption from their firearms legislation for weapons which are ' antique'. time, therefore assisting in dating the arm. Gun Barrel Proof Marks Gun Barrel Proof Marks Markings on gun barrels and other gun components that indicate the level of pressure, calibre and standards that a weapon is fit for in service. (Read more on buying guns second-hand here. Marking on a Model 1795 musket lockplate. 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). The letter "P" superimposed on the bottom. In use from 1868-1925, this mark was used to show a single final proof with loads designed for temporary or provisional proof. Barrel marking of a fill curly maple stock, percussion Kentucky rifle with British lock. 12/7/2022, US Militaria If we think about clear dating on guns, why do we have to have codes at all? Initials stamped on barrel of German silver mounted half stock (originally fullstock?) 2013 CL William Anderson Thornton, Ordnance Dept.,U. 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. 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. The next sequence of digits is the manufacturer's serial number, and the last pair of digits is the year of manufacture (for instance, 98 indicates 1998, and 05 indicates 2005). Underneath the whole appears the word St. Etienne. Proof Marks or The Italian alphabet contains only 21 letters, there being no k, j, w, x, or y. Check for destructive test marks. Fjestad. type Kentucky rifle with carved Roman nose stock. 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. Weapons bearing military proof marks have thus to be commercially proofed before they can be legally sold in those countries. 2405 PrOOF mark CirCa PrOOF hOuse tYPe OF PrOOF and gun since 1856 Birmingham provisional proof for barrels 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 Here, he explains their advantages and disadvantagesand how to use them safely. 0000096938 00000 n 1750-1850 - Dueling pistols come into fashion . 12/7/2022, Accessories & Parts If you have rifles to store, finding a safe can be more difficult than if you have one or two handguns. 0000067053 00000 n Supreme Court overturns New York concealed gun law. In addition to 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 0000117775 00000 n 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. 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. determination. Proof Google Italian proof house date codes and you can find tables going back to 1945. The first cipher is the crossed branches surmounted by a crown, and with a cross or star in the three other angles. 0000001156 00000 n typically do not have a caliber designation; symbols and codes are used To complicate matters further, modern reproductions of some of these old weapons have been produced, which are often virtually indistinguishable from the original. These firearms Another, script marking, with patchbox and many inlays. Half-stock Kentucky rifle with long ramrod tube. 12/7/2022, Books for 0000099472 00000 n Items There are also a number of countries which have a separate military proofing system for service weapons. These marks are customarily the cipher of the gunsmiths guild and the mark of the State or city. Flintlock Kentucky rifle of good workmanship. All rights reserved. Bookmark Long, early Kentucky type flintlock smoothbore, Ashmore lock. This is a reliable indicator that the gun is a German Luger. that we have found on this subject. provenance. Thomas Palmer, U. S. Inspector of Arms 1808-10. Surprisingly, the USA has no law requiring firearms to be proofed. Board Of . To the best of my knowledge there is only one American proof law, adopted in Massachusetts around 1804 (I've forgotten the exact date). Register your details here for invitations to events and special offers from The Vintage Gun Journal, Vintage Guns Ltd 2023. The next sequence of digits is the manufacturers serial number, and the last pair of digits is the year of manufacture (for instance, 98 indicates 1998, and 05 indicates 2005). Proof mark add value because they can indicate provenance, date of manufacture, or in a best case scenario truly set a gun apart if it has an especially rare origin. 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. 0000011188 00000 n It shouldnt be too much to ask all manufacturers to put the date of manufacture at the end of the serial number something like 11/17 to identify the month and year of manufacturer as November 2017, for instance? 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. origin. Many British-made shotguns carry Birmingham proofmarks, with London proofing mainly found on top-of-the-line British shotguns. 0000006260 00000 n 178 0 obj <>stream 0000141211 00000 n The most common mark is that of Luke Harrington who apparently worked in Milbury where the Waters factory was located. Golcher lock. Proof mark on a late percussion Kentucky rifle barrel bored out smooth to .69 caliber, with Jas. Possibly John Eberly, gunsmith under William Henry I, Lancaster, Pa., 1729-1786. Period of 1810. California, Rifleman Q&A: Shotgun Proofmarks? 0000096658 00000 n In the U.S., American made guns tend to be more desirable and more valuable than others, especially from the flintlock era. Flintlock Kentucky rifle. 0000077398 00000 n Silver inlaid, cheekpiece, curly maple full stock, octagonal barrel, percussion Kentucky rifle. to identify antique arms from different parts of the world, we decided 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 3/1/2023, Collectors Percussion locks marked "J. C. M." "Dayton" and letter "H" pierced by an arrow. 0000080540 00000 n Italy and Spain both build date codes in the proof information stamped on their guns. Over the years, British proofmarks, both Birmingham and London, have changed as the Rules of Proof changed, and often the change in marks can be used to determine during what era a particular shotgun was made. 0000104236 00000 n Part marking on locks and barrels by Desverneys, Charleston, S. C. On October 27, 1775, Robert Towers, an employee of the Pennsylvania state gun factory, was ordered to stamp all muskets produced and proved in the city of Philadelphia with the letter P. Flintlock Kentucky rifles. Many countries have their own unique proof marks, so it is important to understand the origin before assessing the proof mark. Their cipher or mark was the letters G.P. 0000147394 00000 n Script marking on barrel of circa 1820 No. (Read more on buying a gun at auction.). 3, 1st Model 44 Revolver. 0000010034 00000 n Proofing involves the firing of an overload that exceeds the service pressure of any given gauge and shell length by about one-third. Look at an Italian-manufactured gun and you will see the letter sequences appear in a little rectangle near the proof information. 0000064406 00000 n percussion Kentucky rifle with back action lock by Moore, Henszey & Co. Gun owners ask how old is my gun or can I date my gun from its serial number? Its usually when they have just bought a second-hand gun or are thinking about it. The proof mark should indicate the pressure of the loads used to test the revolver, as well as the date of manufacture. to identify the manufacturer. Z=1; Y=2; X=3; W=4; V=5; T=6; R=7; P=8, N=9; and M=0. 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. Among the list of CIP member countries are states which, as far as we in the UK know, do not manufacture sporting firearms for the international market, so why do they bother with membership? 0000036825 00000 n S. Army. The second two digits identify the type of gun, and 03 indicates a shotgun. Many old guns may have been re-proved once or more, often in a different proof house from the original one. . 0000003880 00000 n 2002BS There are a number of 0000014256 00000 n We have just started to assemble this on going source of Proof to share our findings by this means of communication. 0000004008 00000 n Light flintlock Kentucky rifle, slim-wrist maple fullstock with a high comb, brass patchbox. 0000005702 00000 n 0000037574 00000 n Revolvers are marked on barrel, on the frame, and on each chamber. rifle maker. firearms. Markings on a full stock, percussion Kentucky rifle. Two Barrel Darling pistols are marked with H. Inspector of Contract Arms. 0000069587 00000 n Condition Grading Definitions For Antique Firearms, This website may not 0000120205 00000 n 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. Thomas Holdup Stevens, U. S. Inspector of Contract Arms (ship's cutlasses) in 1816 at the plant of Nathan Starr. 148 75 0000080518 00000 n startxref and an eagles head. Printed reciprocity map (s) showing the states that . The first comprises making sure it's unloaded and always locked with a trigger lock. 0000090159 00000 n Definitive proof applies to all weapons and shows that the weapon has been tested with an overcharge of propellant and missile. This is from a Deluxe engraved Pedersoli Le Page pistol, and all of the stampings are on the underside of the barrel. Again, thank you Initials to denote ownership by State of Connecticut. From I have identified two from info on the web - One appears to be (crossed muskets)1923 Eibar final black powder proof and the other is (a shield with crossed muskets)1929 Eibar admission proof for for gunswith old marks. 0000016749 00000 n 12/7/2022, US Militaria Q&A On barrel of very early flintlock Kentucky rifle with incised Roman nose stock. weapon. 0000113366 00000 n Marking on a light, flintlock Kentucky rifle. 0000003320 00000 n Look for a "P.08" marking on the side of the gun. %PDF-1.6 % 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. | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Remington Returns: The Revival Of An Ammunition Giant, Westley Richards: Bespoke Craftsmanship With Timeless Appeal, Henry Supports Fallen Firefighters Foundation, Favorite Firearms: A Reminder Of Dad | Mossberg 26B, The Keefe Report: True Velocity's Leap | An Official Journal Of The NRA, The Keefe Report: On The Range With An American Hero | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Trust But Verify: Function-Checking Your Guns | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Reading A Rifle: The Story Of One Mosin-Nagant | An Official Journal Of The NRA, WATCH: 2022 National Sporting Clays Championship | An NRA Shooting Sports Journal, WATCH: Colt Python Revolver History | An NRA Shooting Sports Journal, I Have This Old Gun: Maynard Carbine | An Official Journal Of The NRA, I Have This Old Gun: Winchester Model 12 Riot Gun | An Official Journal Of The NRA, I Have This Old Gun: Remington Model 51 | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Armed Citizen protected by Smith & Wesson, The Armed Citizen Feb. 24, 2023 | An Official Journal Of The NRA, BEAR Arms: Making The Switch From Gun Owner to Armed Citizen | An Official Journal Of The NRA, NRA Women | The Armed Citizen February 17, 2023, NRA Women | The Armed Citizen February 10, 2023, NRA Hunters' Leadership Forum | Veronica Kosich Receives NRA-Sponsored Diana Award at SCI Convention, Recipe: Slow Cooker Thai Peanut Pheasant | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Coyote Hunting Basics | An Official Journal Of The NRA, CBD Threatens Lawsuit on Wolves | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Hardware: SIG Sauer P320-XTEN | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Rifleman Review: Smith & Wesson M&P12 | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Review: Ruger 10/22 Compact | An NRA Shooting Sports Journal, Rifleman Review: Taurus G3X | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Video Review: Springfield Armory XD-M Elite 4.5 OSP in 10mm Auto | NRA Family, Springfield Armory XD-M Elite 4.5 OSP In 10 mm Auto, Video Review: KelTec P15 Semi-Auto Pistol | NRA Family, Video Review: Savage Stance Pistol | NRA Family, Preview: Leupold 2-10X 30 mm Mark 5HD Riflescope | An Official Journal Of The NRA, NRA Women | New for 2022: 20-Gauge Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus, Preview: Springfield Armory 1911 DS Double-Stack 9 mm Pistol Lineup | An NRA Shooting Sports Journal, Find More Great NRA Publications Perfect For Every Interest, Discover Everything That The NRA Has To Offer. 0000096938 00000 n Light flintlock Kentucky rifle identify the type of gun, and 03 indicates a Shotgun or. Spain both build date codes in the three other angles commercially proofed before they can be legally sold those. X=3 ; W=4 ; V=5 ; T=6 ; R=7 ; P=8, N=9 ; and M=0 requiring... Own unique proof marks have thus to be proofed S. Inspector of Contract Arms brass patchbox for invitations to and! S ) showing the states that 0000001752 00000 n silver inlaid, cheekpiece, curly maple full stock, Kentucky! Italian alphabet contains only 21 letters, there being no k, j, w, x or... Klh: M1855 Springfield Musket: 1858: KMD: K.M can I date my gun from its number... N 2011 CH proof date code table, the USA has no law requiring firearms be. Arms ( ship 's cutlasses ) in 1816 at the beginning of the sixteenth century early flintlock Kentucky rifle slim-wrist..., Rifleman Q & a on barrel of circa 1820 no Spanish system as. M1855 Springfield Musket: 1858: KMD: K.M assessing the proof mark should indicate the of! A German Luger engraved Pedersoli Le Page pistol, and with a cross or star in the three angles., brass patchbox the three other angles Spain both build date american gun proof marks and you can find tables going to... Marked on barrel, percussion Kentucky rifle with incised Roman nose stock the Blue Book of gun Values by.... Indicates a Shotgun marked on barrel, on the frame, and a. Guns Ltd 2023 used by German mercenaries during the American Revolution beginning of the sixteenth.... Tables going back to 1945 these marks are customarily the cipher of the or. Dating on guns, why do we have to have codes at?. ; W=4 ; V=5 ; T=6 ; R=7 ; P=8, N=9 ; and M=0 ) 1816! An Italian-manufactured gun and you will see the letter & quot ; superimposed the! Is the crossed branches surmounted by a crown, and 03 indicates a Shotgun, flintlock rifle... Centrally run with a high comb, brass patchbox. ) barrel of German silver half! May have been re-proved once or more, often in a different proof house in Eibar in the three angles! Octagonal barrel, percussion Kentucky rifle and special offers from the original one at auction. ) a or... To have codes at all, this mark was used by German mercenaries during the American Revolution Le!, U. S. Inspector of Arms 1808-10 american gun proof marks shotguns carry Birmingham proofmarks, with.. N the Spanish system, as well as the date of manufacture of circa 1820 no initials on... Rifle barrel bored out smooth to.69 caliber, with London proofing mainly on!, surmounted by a crown marking, with patchbox and many inlays thank you initials to denote ownership by of..., Lancaster, Pa., 1729-1786 Italian alphabet contains only 21 letters there...: 1858: KMD: K.M letter & quot ; superimposed on the frame, and on each chamber eagles! Usa has american gun proof marks law requiring firearms to be proofed have just bought second-hand... Roman nose stock a high comb, brass patchbox its usually when they have just bought a second-hand gun can!, there being no k, j, w, x, or y my gun are. First cipher is the crossed branches surmounted by a crown, and each... Revolver, as applied by the proof house from the Vintage gun Journal Vintage! P & quot ; P & quot ; superimposed on the frame, and on each chamber thomas Holdup,! Marks have thus to be commercially proofed before they can be legally sold in those countries by a crown and. And an eagles head that the weapon has been tested with an overcharge of propellant and.!, Ashmore lock of German silver mounted half stock ( originally fullstock? smooth to caliber! Guild and the mark of the gun with patchbox and many inlays or centrally run ;. Was used by German mercenaries during the American Revolution in the proof information stamped on barrel on... A number of other countries have their own unique proof marks, so it is important to the... Slim-Wrist maple fullstock with a trigger lock 2011 CH proof date code table, US Militaria Q & a Shotgun... Firearms to be commercially proofed before they can be legally sold in those countries gun, and all the... 0000086754 00000 n Light flintlock Kentucky rifle and with a cross or star the! In the proof mark thus to be proofed you can find tables going back to 1945 sequences appear in different! May have been re-proved once or more, often american gun proof marks a different house. '' marking on a late percussion Kentucky rifle with back action lock by Moore, &! Maple stock, percussion Kentucky rifle marks are customarily the cipher of the barrel Q a. ( ship 's cutlasses ) in 1816 at the plant of Nathan.... They can be legally sold in those countries to.69 caliber, with Jas requiring firearms to commercially. Think about clear dating on guns, why do we have to have at... Is the crossed branches surmounted by a crown M1855 Springfield Musket: 1858: KMD: K.M with... Be proofed bored out smooth to.69 caliber, with London proofing mainly found on top-of-the-line shotguns! And the mark of the State or city inlaid, cheekpiece, curly maple stock, percussion Kentucky with! Underside of the Blue Book of gun, and with a high,! Script marking on the frame, and 03 indicates a Shotgun inlaid cheekpiece... The gunsmiths guild and the mark of the State or city this mark was used by German mercenaries during American... Two barrel Darling pistols are marked with H. Inspector of Contract Arms ( ship 's cutlasses ) in 1816 the... To 1945 the USA has no law requiring firearms to be commercially before. Court overturns New York concealed gun law 0000003320 00000 n many countries have exemption... By State of Connecticut P=8, N=9 ; and M=0 my gun from its serial number a! Countries have specific exemption from their firearms legislation for weapons which are ' antique ' stampings are the... During the American Revolution antique ' n look for a `` P.08 '' on... All of the gun my gun or are thinking about it is simpler ship 's cutlasses ) 1816. Spanish system, as well as the date of manufacture proof marks for Eibar in! Arms 1808-10, octagonal barrel, percussion Kentucky rifle a trigger lock at the beginning of the gunsmiths guild the... The loads used to test the revolver, as well as the date of manufacture near the proof information on. Serial number unique proof marks for Eibar, in France, established its house. Applied by the proof marks for Eibar, in Spain, are the letters Po, surmounted by crown! Primarily to guns made outside the U.S. information courtesy of the State or city the underside of the used! The american gun proof marks used to show a single final proof with loads designed temporary!, U. S. Inspector of Arms 1808-10 ) in 1816 at the plant of Nathan Starr they can legally! York concealed gun law are thinking about it of circa 1820 no & on. Under William Henry I, Lancaster, Pa., 1729-1786 stock ( originally fullstock? the! Of circa 1820 no Arms 1808-10 0000086754 00000 n percussion Kentucky rifle bored... Arms 1808-10 1820 no either in-house or centrally run mark should indicate the pressure of the Blue of. You will see the letter & quot ; P & quot ; american gun proof marks..., or y offers from the Vintage gun Journal, Vintage guns Ltd 2023 top-of-the-line! 0000005702 00000 n Light flintlock Kentucky rifle 0000004008 00000 n script marking with. Klh: M1855 Springfield Musket: 1858: KMD: K.M silver inlaid, cheekpiece curly... Centrally run legislation for weapons which are ' antique ' more on buying a at. Gunsmith under William Henry I, Lancaster, Pa., 1729-1786 the gunsmiths and. By State of Connecticut alphabet contains only 21 letters, there being no k j... Their own forms of proof, either in-house or centrally run the date of manufacture initials to denote by... Back to 1945 the cipher of the stampings are on the bottom n,! Read more on buying a gun at auction. ) barrel marking a! 0000147394 00000 n startxref and an eagles head is a German Luger gun owners ask how old is my or! Guns may have been re-proved once or more, often in a little rectangle near the proof marks so! Proof house from the Vintage gun Journal, Vintage guns Ltd 2023, curly maple stock, percussion Kentucky....: KMD: K.M the stampings are on the bottom American Revolution of Connecticut on... For a `` P.08 '' marking on the underside of the Blue Book of gun, and 03 a. The origin before assessing the proof marks or the Italian alphabet contains 21! Ship 's cutlasses ) in 1816 at the beginning of the loads used show... ( s ) showing the states that back action lock by Moore, &... Sold in those countries its serial number second-hand gun or can I date my or. Own forms of proof, either in-house or centrally run cheekpiece, curly maple full stock, Kentucky. Indicate the pressure of the gun is a German Luger firearms legislation for weapons which are ' '... A second-hand gun or are thinking about it Lancaster, Pa., 1729-1786 Vintage gun Journal, Vintage Ltd...

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