Originally Posted By: treblig1958
I see. So we need that 'date code' stamp for a positive date?


You won't get a date code stamp on that gun. With the exception of a couple years (1922-23?), Belgian guns with the gauge over C in a diamond were made before date codes were in use. If this gun had 16-65 in a sort of sideways horseshoe (there's another term for that?), then it would date from 1924 or later and there would be a date code. The change from the gauge over C to the gauge/chamber length as a proofmark gives you a rough split in production date. Then you start looking for the date code, which will always be there on Belgian guns with the later proofmark.