Originally Posted By: gunman
I think you will find that proof in France was not compulsory until the early 20thC...

The French system of proof goes back to 1700. The proofing of sporting arms by a government run proof house goes back to 1726. This see-sawed back and forth until Napoleon, prone to his hands on approach to minor matters, decreed on Dec 14, 1810 that the rules of proof of 1782 be followed for all arms.

Pete

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