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Can one of you please interpret this shotgun proof marks. The gun should have been made in Spring 1897. It should by all rights have London proofs on it when made. I know it's been reproofed. But I'll be darned if I can understand what I'm seeing...(these are the original barrels).



Thanks

Gene,
Just a bit outside my wheelhouse, but, I’ll give it a shot...
The gun was originally proofed at 13 bore, or, 728. This was common, I’ve owned several 12 gauge English guns that were proofed the same way. The marks for 3 tons, 2 1/2” and 728 are all key to determining if the gun remains in proof. If the bore hasn’t been honed more than .010, or, the chamber lengthened, you should be good to go with CIP 2 1/2” ammunition. There is (was?) choke in the left tube when it was proofed, in that era I don’t believe they indicated how much choke, just that it was there.

Not sure what other questions you may have.

Best,
Ted

The London re-Proof was date stamped 1987.

The original 13 bore Birmingham Black Powder Proof is .710 (up to .718) so prior to re-proof the bores have been honed out between 10 to 20 thou.

You might want to check wall thicknesses up front, but it should be OK with CIP 2 1/2” cartridges as long as the chambers have not been lengthen or it has not otherwise been weakened or neglected since it was re-Proofed.