doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com when did "made in England" first appear on barrels

just wondering when did made in England first appear on English barrels?

I have seen that on very low grade, especially Damascus, guns from the late 19th century. Not only on the barrels but on the actions. And sometimes with a plagarized--at least partially--name that would indicate the gun may in fact have been made in Belgium and ultimatley proofed in Birmingham only to lend some legitimacy to the gun. Often borderline POS.

Gil,

The reason you state is one possible reason for saying "made in England". The other reason is a gun was made in England for expectations that it is to be exported.

I have a best gun that is stamped "England" on the stock, the barrels and the water table. Also on the maker's label in fine print. This was in 1891 for a gun retailed by Read and Sons, Boston.

There is a proof mark that exists that is applied to guns of foreign manufacture being sent through the London and Birmingham proof houses. I would imagine the spurious "Made in England" marks would be put on Belgian trash guns in order to prevent the detrimental proof mark that denotes "foreign manufacture" from being added to the gun at proof.

In conclusion, old guns said "Made in England" because:

1. They were being made for export
2. They were forgeries being pawned off on the Brit public courtesy of the eurotrash in Belgium
3. Point 2 above, but instead of being targeted at Brits, it was to fool American hardware store patrons into buying a Liege gun because they thought it was a Birmingham gun.

The McKinley Tariff Act of 1890 is the reason for many of these markings. The McKinley Tariff Act raised taxes on goods imported to the United States to an historical high of up to 49 percent. The Act also required that all imports to America carry labeling as to their country of origin, which means that all firearms imported to the U.S. after 1890 should be marked as such.

Ken

I'm not 100% certain but I seem to recall the London or Birmingham proof marks for foreign made guns had a circle around the letters and sometimes had 'not made in England' or words to that effect. Can't lay my hands on the book that had the examples in at the moment but will try and find it. Sorry it doesn't help with the original question though. .