ellenbr...to calirify above...I have yet to see an American market import Sauer shotgun (Grade 3,30,40) which was produced prior to WW1 with the nitro proof (Crown N or Crown NITRO)stamped on the barrel flats. (Draw your own conclusions from this nitro proof stamp ommision) Exceptions to the above statement are re. nitro proof stampings are the very few recordings of Grade 60's in my files. As I am sure that you know, Crown N or Crown NITRO proof mark was not generally seen on Sauer shotguns produced prior to 1912 (with exceptions of course)or round about s/n 176,XXX or so. Also and for what it is worth...If I am (Sauer) producing and sending shotguns to a market (USA/NA) that does not require or have a formal proof requirement, why go thru the extra step? After all these gun making companies were in it to make money and if they did not have to take the unnecessary step of proof for certain export custmomers/markets, why go thru it?
