What is interesting with this case is that it documents, at least in this instance, how guns were entering the country and avoiding the tariffs. This allows the maker to meet customer price points. Again the "purchaser" is not an individual but a large American retailer.
It certainly raises the question as to how many may have been following this model. The lack of proof marks on early guns makes me think they used some part of the proof house laws to circumvent the costs involved. The export gun market during this period was highly competitive. Too bad we do not have complete custom records by country and year.
Pete
