Help with dating this guns age?

Your barrel proofs do not show well in the photo

https://www.shotguns.se/html/germany_1890-1945.html

Interesting term >>Belgium 16Ga<< on the lower rib. Seems somewhat lacking of a full regiment of German proofs but wears Birmingham. I would say 2 the end of WWII and taken as a trophy of War back to England?

Serbus,

Raimey
rse

See what the Birmingham re-proof datecode might be.


Serbus,

Raimey
rse

My Simson has much more information and it is all readable, but I cannot make out anything of value on your barrel flats.
If you can get a good clear picture of every surface with marks , stamps. or writing it may be possible to be of assistance.

I cannot read the full "viewers mark"/date code due to the photo lack of clarity, but it would be from the 1980"s.

2 1/2" chambers but not marked 65MM. A bit strange. I think its certainly older then the 1980s.

Tut;

The Bimingham proof house viewers mark that you can see at the rear of the left barrel flat (a circle with a B and a 1) was used starting in 1979 through the 1980's. I agree the whole thing about the proofing and the absence of other proof marks from Europe on the flats is strange. Viewing the photo, the barrels and the bottom rib I can see markings and if the original poster of this could supply a good clear photo of these markings maybe that will help with the mystery of the guns age. The markings on the bottom rib are likely the name of the importer, required by the ATF. As to the 65 mm vs. 2 1/2" chamber markings: apparently, the proof houses were not required to use metric markings until about 1989--you can also see that the bore size is in inches. If the original poster will provide a clear photo of the viewers mark, I can determine the exact year the gun was proofed.

Thanks guy i got it figured out.

OK, what is the answer to your original question?

Regards;

Stephen Howell

It was proofed before 1945.

Hum, from that pic, I would really like to know how someone arrived @ that. It really seems to be an end of the war cobbled together piece. Maybe the serial number had some significance.

Serbus,

Raimey
rse

The proof marks are not clear because the barrel flats were not polished bright after a reblue as they should have been ( including sides of under lugs, extractor, rear face of barrels, and muzzle).
Mike

I don't really think that is a factor Ford. I inspected it pretty close.

Serbus,

Raimey
rse