doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Belgian Proof Marks made easy

I've revised the 'Belgian Maker's and Proof Marks' album to make thing a bit easier, with the essential illustrations much larger
http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=17575181

From "Trade & Hallmarks on Firearms in Belgium" Bruno Joos De Ter Beerst, 1998







1 millimeters = 0.03937 inches
17.0 = .670"
16.3 = .640"
18.7 = .740"
18.0 = .710"
Choke markings may be found after 1924.

1 kilogram = 2.20462262 pounds
1.3555 Kg = 3 pounds
May also be found on barrels after 1924.

Interesting that he does not show the gauge-chamber length mark that replaced the gauge over C in a diamond. (But he does describe it.) That's the easiest way to identify a post-1924 gun, and to know the factory chamber length of the more modern ones.

He illustrated about 20 more marks Larry. I was too lazy to enlarge, cut and paste, and post all of them

Thank you for taking the time to do this...good stuff.


So what's up w/ the stars deal? I've never wanted any - and thought I had them 'turned off' - but suddenly two now appear under my name?!

Here are the date codes. The 1st is in European cursive.





After 1924 the barrel weight no longer included a decimal place.

Pete

I have all the usuall culprits on my 1924 or before gun but also a P with an asterix over it and an N with an asterix over it.

My gun looks to be exactly 1924 as it has the diamond with the 12 and the c in it. Has the lion over PV for smokeless and all the other markings. But the n and the p I don't understand. They are in line from top to bottom and are not combined with anything else. Also could someone tell me what choke 18.0 and 17.3 would translate into for this 12GA?

My 1924 or before gun must have gone in for a later reproof as it has a lion over P.V. on the flats. Is that how they did it/ They would just take the gun in and ask for a reproof? or what?

This is an easy to use site for converting metric to real

http://www.worldwidemetric.com/metcal.htm

Jim

My W. Foerster and J. Ansorg Berlin marked gun has German proofs on the Krupp barrel flats but a peron with an S and a star above on the action flats. Doesn't this seem strange?

Phil

In addition to all the other marks, the Liege Bank of Proof also had the Controller of Proof stamp the gun. This was done with a letter with an * over it. After about 1924 the names are pretty solid, before that it is any one's guess. This had been going on for decades. To my knowledge the Belgians were the only one's who identified the Controller.

The gun would have been choked Extra Full and Improved, I believe.

Pete