doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Help on a Belgian maker's mark please

Trying to help a fella over on 16ga.com with his nice O/U
http://www.16ga.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6364
The smokeless proof is clearly the post-1968 stylized lion over PV BUT the proofdate letter looks to be a 'x' which would be 1945. The Greek 'chi' was not used.



The 'AL' could be Arnold Lochet, but I can't find the ? maker's mark in the 'L' section of the littlegun site or on PeteM's list.
Laurent Lochet-Habran is a bit similar, but it looks more like a 'P' or possibly a 'A' within the 'L'





Thank you and a blessed Thanksgiving to all.

Drew, can't help with the makers mark, but the nitro proof mark in your photo was used until 1959 according to my source. In 1959 they started using a crown over pv. See Gun Digest, 1979 page 138


Jim

Thanks Jim. Here's a pre-1924 Auguste Lebeau with the same stylized lion so obviously I was incorrect about it being post-1968 despite what Marques et Poincons d'Arms A Fue En Belgique by Bruno Joos De Ter Beerst says

I think I remember that the stylized Rampant Lion mark is the Belgian proof mark for guns meant for export, while the full bodied Lion was the mark used for the domestic product...Geo

Thanks George, and that is what Ter Beerst says, but the cat is looking the other direction

I have AL as Arnold Lochet. Search for the last name and you will find it.

Pete