I'm looking at a Belgian guild gun with no maker's name and these proofs:







Couple questions:

Am I correct in concluding that the gun was proven pre-1924 because the chokes are listed as a fraction?

Is 6873 the original proof pressure, or does it refer to something else?

Is 70 a statement of chamber length here?

I can't find the bird/dragon proof on any tables. Do any of you know what it means?

Is there anything else worth knowing that I'm missing here?

Thanks for your help!

The bird is the trademark of CAP, the type of steel used on this gun and is not connected to proof marks.
I don't have my reference book where I am but I would say early 20th century and certainly pre 1922 because the date code is absent.
Other giveaways are the barrel weights in 1/10 of grams and the "12 C" mark.
6873 is more than likely a subcontractor work order number, and is not involved in the proof mark either.
70 is indeed chamber length and 20.4 is chamber diameter.
Best regards,
WC-

Yes early
and two inspector stamps also
Was 65mm and then reproofed to 70mm

Is the number on the barrel the serial number of the gun?


http://www.shotguns.se/html/belgium.html

That encircled F looks like an Austrian proofmark. Whose name is atop it if any?

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Thanks for all the great info, guys.



There is no maker on the top. Each barrel is engraved with a bird over the words, "COMPOUND STEEL." The bottom of the action is engraved: "E. DONNAY DIPLOME LILLE."

Maybe a wild goose chase, but

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lille,_Belgium

Looks like E. DONNAY may have earned his diploma from Lille??????

70 is a 2 3/4" chamber & I see 20.6 rather than 20.4 for the diameter. 20.6 = .811" & would be the diameter of the chamber just in front of the rim seat.

E. DONNAY DIPLOME LILLE, huh. We've been chasing an E. Donnay or Donnay of Liege for some time.

Joseph Donnay:

http://doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=389970&#Post389970

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Can't seem to unearth any info on Arquebusier E. Donnay à Lille (Nord) or Armurier E. Donnay à Lille? Seems there were families of Donnay there?

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Looking at the other thread, it sounds like both E Donnay and J Donnay were retailers or distributors, not makers. Is that correct?

I'm trying to put this one out of my head without success, so here's one more question.

Can anyone describe the function of this sliding bar on the rib? Was this an early attempt at an adjustable rib, or something else?