doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Reproof Date Code Puzzle

I recently bought what appears to be a Thomas Wild Pigeon gun at an auction.

The basic proof marks are easy enough to figure out (in part because all of the help I got here from a few folks), but the reproof mark is pretty clearly and HD - which isn't on any of the charts.

I"m guessing it's 2005, because the existing charts stop at 2004 with GD.



Here's the rest of the barrel flats if anyone wants to take a stab at original manufacture date.



It's an interesting gun, pretty dynamic for a 32" barreled gun at juuuuust under 7 lbs., 8 oz.

2005 is correct.

Are 1 1/2oz proofs allowed in the pigeon ring?
76mm chambers?

I’m thinking fowler.

You do an excellent job with the resolution of the pics Geoff

The original proof was 1925-1954

Reproved early 2005 before STD, SUP & STEEL SHOT were marked, and the date code was changed to numbers ie 0 5
It was proved at 1200 BAR = 17,400 psi for a max. service pressure of 1050 BAR = about 15,230

The original bore 13/1 = .719" - .728". 18.7 = .736"

Bland 1954 catalog repro
https://cornellpubs.com/product/2862/

Maybe Bland's Brent Waterfowl Gun
https://www.shotgunworld.com/thread...utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic

The guy at Woodcock Hollow? Used to be the wildfowl gun guy for these. I think he owned the name rights.

Valid questions - and I don't know the answers for sure.

I believe that it was the shell size that was limited, and not the heavy proof, but I could easily be wrong.

...it's awfully light and fast handling for a fowler.

That's the macro and zoom on my iPhone 17 Plus, not me.

It does make reading tiny proof marks easy on old eyes.

Yep, that's what I'm thinking, and much closer to 1925 based on the serial number. My mid-1930s Wild Hammer gun is serial number 20742.


Thanks for the confirmation on the 2005 re-proof.


Thanks - A Bland marked as a Wild? Could be.

Thanks - that was my bet.