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#612543 03/15/22 05:40 PM
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Can someone who has a finer knowledge of proof marks tell me what these marks mean? These marks are found on the barrels of my Thomas Hepplestone, Jones action, double barrel rifle in 450 3 1/4" BPE. Also am curious when it may have been made. Currently I estimate 1885 +/- 5 years
[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]

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Any other markings on the barrel flats, not shown to the left?

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NO

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A few pics of the gun
[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]
[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]
[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]
[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]
[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]
[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]

Last edited by LRF; 03/15/22 10:06 PM.
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Nice looking rifle. And how nice that it has load data engraved on the barrels (from your additional pictures, not the first).

London proofs before nitro. I'll wait for someone smarter than me to add a more useful reply.

Overall I like the condition. Lock to metal fit is still good. Doesn't looked messed with. The flat wide top rib and carving of the fences are earlier styles. You might narrow down the date by seeing when the Anson push button forearm release was patented, as it looks to have one in the last photo. Barrel is marked for use with solid, not coiled case, so that might give you another reference date if you don't find more on when the maker was active. Also looks to have rebounding hammers.

If I were wagering a beer, I'd guess 1874-1882, but I can't tell you that from the proofs, just that it's pre-nitro and post 1600s. You know it's post 1867 as that's when the maker moved to 25 Shude Hill.

Lastly, for some reason the marks closest to the barrel flats suggest the rifle spent some time in India or points further east.

Please keep us posted if you learn more.

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Here is a picture of the forend release which is stamped with the patent number. I have not yet discovered any date for this patent but still looking. If I could find that it would at least close one end of the time scale with regards to when this rifle was built
[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]

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My guess is that it is a use number for W Anson's 1872 patent number 3791 for fore-end push rod fastener.


Regards - Ian Forrester
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Thanks Ian, I had found the 1872 reference to #3791 but had not thought of your "use number" comment. Am I correct in that a use number would be like a contract permission of using the Anson patent?
So we now know the gun was made after 1872.
Hepplestone made guns at the address (25 Shudehill, Manchester) on the barrel from 1867 to 1910. So my rifle was made between 1872 and 1910. A broad range. If anyone has any more information that refines the dates I will appreciate it.

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You are correct about patent use numbers. They indicate authorized licensed use of a patent for which a fee was paid. When patent protection expired, PUNs were no longer necessary. I believe UK patents also required an annual fee to be paid to renew protection, and if this lapsed, protection and PUNs would end. How to find out when renewals stopped for this patent is something I couldn't find. So even at 20 year's duration, you know production should be no later than 1892.

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Well, I do wonder when the London Proofhouse commenced using the bore diameter in inches instead of gauge, which in this case was a 56.61 Bore.

Serbus,

Raimey
rse

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