Drew, check the chamber length. I think the marks might be some amateur counterfeiter's effort to make it appear the gun was reproofed in France for 3" (75mm) chambers. Could the crown over the sideways E be a P.T. instead? And the squashed buzzard is a poor attempt to make the crossed palm branch French proof marks? The sideways E might also be an attempt to make it appear the proof was at Etienne. There have been lots of years of unscrupulous activity regarding proofs to skirt the laws.
Last edited by Jerry V Lape; 02/25/10 04:56 PM.
