0000067053 00000 n From 2002BS You need to know how to read the different proof marks on guns and serial numbers to be able discover how old a gun is. Gun owners ask how old is my gun or can I date my gun from its serial number? Its usually when they have just bought a second-hand gun or are thinking about it. Seen It is also a good idea to have relevant documents when carrying a gun while traveling: Copies of your valid concealed carry permit (s) A copy of the Firearm Owners Protection Act (FOPA) Copies of 18 USC 926A code regarding interstate transportation of firearms. A voluminous schedule of rules and scales of charge for the proof of various kinds of small arms is in existence, and the proof is the same at London and at Birmingham; though different proof marks are employed. 0000141211 00000 n Marking on a pair of flintlock Kentucky type pistols carried by Col. Nathan Dennison at Battle of Wyoming, Pa., July 3, 1778. Knowledge of commonly used military ammunition assists Winner, Nippes & Co., Nippes, Daniel, and Steinman, John. This is a feature unique to German Lugers. This article was written by the late Mike George in 2014 and has been updated. C-96 (Broomhandle) Marlin Remington Ruger (& Factory Letters) Winchester U.S. Military Markings Gun Marks House Brands U.S. 12/7/2022, Accessories & Parts date, serial number and property marks as well as various acceptance and This Questions & Answers was featured in the November 2004 issue of American Rifleman. . Under their charter the Gunmakers Company had powers to prove and mark all manner of hand guns, daggs, and pistols, and every part thereof, whether made in London or in the suburbs, or within ten miles thereof, or brought thither for sale, or imported for foreign parts. Britain accepts the proof standards of all CIP member countries, but the products of all other nations have to be proofed in this country before they can be legally sold in the UK. On one spesimen the patchbox lid is engraved "BERLIN" in script. 0000084840 00000 n Marking inside of lock of Model 1795 flintlock musket. Inside marking of a commercial, side action, percussion lock, without tumbler stirrup, ornamented with flying geese and floral stamping. 0000013204 00000 n Fancy flintlock Kentucky rifle with raised carv ing, 45 silver inlays; engraved C. Bird & Co., Phila., lock. 136 43 It is unfortunate from the point of view of history that weapons were not marked with a date letter as is customary with silver hall-marks, but the proof-marks stamped upon arms give no indication of the period of proof. 0000016410 00000 n Stamped under breech of A. Gumpf halfstock percussion rifle. firearms. The majority of marks will be found on the barrel flats, though early guns may have stamps on the tubes, under the forend. Provisional proof is only for shotgun barrels in the early stages of manufacture. %%EOF in script on octagonal barrel. Prob ably same as J. G. H., percussion Kentucky rifles. Smith & Wesson New Model No.3 Turkish .44 Revolver 1875. In addition to 2405 PrOOF mark CirCa PrOOF hOuse tYPe OF PrOOF and gun since 1856 Birmingham provisional proof for barrels since 1637 London definitive black powder proof for shotguns,muzzle loader barrels 1811-1892 Liege black powder proof for rifles 1897-1923 Liege black powder proof for rifles Flintlock Kentucky rifle with 2 patch boxes; one on each side of the stock. Middletown, Conn. Percussion under-hammer pistols. 0000131632 00000 n There are also a number of countries which have a separate military proofing system for service weapons. for your continued support, encouragement and admonishment. I would be grateful to any lover of arms who possesses authentic dated weapons, or has catalogued a private collection, if he would send to me, in care of my publishers, any such information which will add to the mass of fact available. Script initials on barrel of late Kentucky .28 cal. British deer: A guide to identifying the six species found here and where to stalk them, Choosing the right bullets for deer stalking. The next sequence of digits is the manufacturers serial number, and the last pair of digits is the year of manufacture (for instance, 98 indicates 1998, and 05 indicates 2005). 1941 - 1945 Measuring the bore diameter and chamber At time of publication, "Questions & Answers" was compiled by Staff, Ballistics Editor William C. Davis, Jr., and Contributing Editors: David Andrews, Hugh C. Birnbaum, Bruce N. Canfield, O. Reid Coffield, Charles Q. Cutshaw, Charles M. Fagg, Angus Laidlaw, Evan P. Marshall, Charles E. Petty, Robert B. Pomeranz, O.D., Jon R. Sundra, Jim Supica, A.W.F. A great deal of painstaking research work is necessary before a list of armourers marks applied to pistols can be compiled, but I have every hope of preparing such a list at a future date when peace is restored in Europe and the great museum collections are accessible. 0000011853 00000 n Completely updated and expanded, this new edition of The Official Guide to Gunmarks identifies manufacturers' marks that appear on American and foreign pistols, rifles, and shotguns. This can be caused by corrosion, wear, excessive cleaning with abrasive material, or the deliberate removal of metal, for example, when a gun is rebored. Penna. Tullea three spiked crown or mitre above a capital E (as shown below). Marking on superposed, percussion Kentucky type rifle. The second is the crossed branches, with the letters A.E. to identify the manufacturer. German firearms are loaded with a variety of markings and stamps. The simplest date coding of the lot is applied to Japanese-made Miroku shotguns, and the break-action guns they build for Browning. 0000036825 00000 n Surprisingly, the USA has no law requiring firearms to be proofed. All rights reserved. Look for a "P.08" marking on the side of the gun. 0000012820 00000 n This marking is also found on percussion Kentucky rifle. ). 0000007778 00000 n Many countries have their own unique proof marks, so it is important to understand the origin before assessing the proof mark. A gun is said to go out of proof if the internal dimensions of its barrel exceed certain defined original dimensions when it was proof tested. You might also like to read how to steel proof a Spanish side-by-side. (Shotgun restoration where to get it done and what to spend. that we have found on this subject. 0000074288 00000 n The second is to put it in a safe, preferably made specifically for guns. There are a number of 0000009076 00000 n 1637 - First use of firearms proof-marks. In the U.S., American-made guns tend to be more desirable and more valuable than others, especially from the flintlock era. 0000008871 00000 n | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Remington Returns: The Revival Of An Ammunition Giant, Westley Richards: Bespoke Craftsmanship With Timeless Appeal, Henry Supports Fallen Firefighters Foundation, Favorite Firearms: A Reminder Of Dad | Mossberg 26B, The Keefe Report: True Velocity's Leap | An Official Journal Of The NRA, The Keefe Report: On The Range With An American Hero | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Trust But Verify: Function-Checking Your Guns | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Reading A Rifle: The Story Of One Mosin-Nagant | An Official Journal Of The NRA, WATCH: 2022 National Sporting Clays Championship | An NRA Shooting Sports Journal, WATCH: Colt Python Revolver History | An NRA Shooting Sports Journal, I Have This Old Gun: Maynard Carbine | An Official Journal Of The NRA, I Have This Old Gun: Winchester Model 12 Riot Gun | An Official Journal Of The NRA, I Have This Old Gun: Remington Model 51 | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Armed Citizen protected by Smith & Wesson, The Armed Citizen Feb. 24, 2023 | An Official Journal Of The NRA, BEAR Arms: Making The Switch From Gun Owner to Armed Citizen | An Official Journal Of The NRA, NRA Women | The Armed Citizen February 17, 2023, NRA Women | The Armed Citizen February 10, 2023, NRA Hunters' Leadership Forum | Veronica Kosich Receives NRA-Sponsored Diana Award at SCI Convention, Recipe: Slow Cooker Thai Peanut Pheasant | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Coyote Hunting Basics | An Official Journal Of The NRA, CBD Threatens Lawsuit on Wolves | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Hardware: SIG Sauer P320-XTEN | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Rifleman Review: Smith & Wesson M&P12 | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Review: Ruger 10/22 Compact | An NRA Shooting Sports Journal, Rifleman Review: Taurus G3X | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Video Review: Springfield Armory XD-M Elite 4.5 OSP in 10mm Auto | NRA Family, Springfield Armory XD-M Elite 4.5 OSP In 10 mm Auto, Video Review: KelTec P15 Semi-Auto Pistol | NRA Family, Video Review: Savage Stance Pistol | NRA Family, Preview: Leupold 2-10X 30 mm Mark 5HD Riflescope | An Official Journal Of The NRA, NRA Women | New for 2022: 20-Gauge Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus, Preview: Springfield Armory 1911 DS Double-Stack 9 mm Pistol Lineup | An NRA Shooting Sports Journal, Find More Great NRA Publications Perfect For Every Interest, Discover Everything That The NRA Has To Offer. For various reasons, these have not been acceptable to the European commercial proof houses, and the weapons have to be fully proofed before they are legally saleable in those countries. Parisa cipher of E. and P. set back to back (as shown below). Most original German Lugers were finished with a blued steel finish. Equally, the screw-cutting of a barrel for a sound moderator, the installation of new screw-in chokes and fitting a muzzle-brake require a re-proof. Check for destructive test marks. 0000006511 00000 n 0000009527 00000 n Different countries have different codes. Look at an Italian-manufactured gun and you will see the letter sequences appear in a little rectangle near the proof information. We have just started to assemble this on going source of Proof 0000016830 00000 n Handguns Stamping inside a flint Kentucky rifle lock marked externally "KETLAND & CO.". The letter "P" superimposed on the bottom. At one time, the situation was simple, with an antique being considered to be anything over 100 years old. startxref What looks like "T. D." in old German script on a long flint lock Kentucky rifle, is "C. D." The initials of Christian Durr. Spain depended for long upon the proof of individual armourers, and most Spanish barrels were marked with the stamp of the maker set in a square or oblong block under a crown. 0000002251 00000 n After years of looking at and trying S. Army. 2004 BU Double set-triggers; cut out patchbox. The fourth the crossed branches, with the letters S.E.E., and a cross in their angles. Examine the shape of the gun. Marking on a Model 1795 musket lockplate. 0000092657 00000 n Curly maple, full stock, percussion Kentucky rifle. You might also like to read how to steel proof a Spanish side-by-side. Bookmark Though not American gunmakers, listed as marking likely to be found on American made rifles. Modern pistols and revolvers are proved in their last stage of manufacture when complete with action and in firing order. Identify the maker. Definitive proof applies to all weapons and shows that the weapon has been tested with an overcharge of propellant and missile. (Read more on buying guns second-hand here. 2011 CH 12/7/2022, U.S. Longarms Many old guns may have been re-proved once or more, often in a different proof house from the original one. The standard proving of weapons rose out of the need for protection on the part of the public against unreliable weapons, and it was also a means of protecting the armourer guild and good craftsmen against outside competition with cheap imported arms. 0000010034 00000 n Many inexpensive shotguns were imported from Belgium for resale in this country, and bear those proofmarks. Supreme Court overturns New York concealed gun law. Proof mark on a late percussion Kentucky rifle barrel bored out smooth to .69 caliber, with Jas. 0000026203 00000 n These, once again, are not accepted by the. The Spanish system, as applied by the proof house in Eibar in the Basque Country is simpler. cases. Reproof is an additional test which may be applied after a weapon has been repaired or altered in some way. Required initially by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives since 1968 as part of the implementation of the Gun Control Act signed into law that year by President Lyndon B.. 0000004652 00000 n Probably Ketland, Walker & Adams, listed in Birmingham, England in 1818. Marking on the barrel of a Kentucky type, flint lock pistol with lock marked "C. E. Hardy & Co.". Proof mark add value because they can indicate provenance, date of manufacture, or in a best case scenario truly set a gun apart if it has an especially rare origin. Stamping inside lock of early flintlock Ken tucky rifle. 2017 CS. For now, here are the date letter codes for the past 20 years: 1997 BI 2/6/2023, Handguns To be sold legally, every cartridge firearm must bear valid proof marks. Possibly J. G. Full stock, flintlock Kentucky rifle with con verted lock marked "W. T. HOWELL & CO.". 2010 CF xref 0000096658 00000 n 0000051585 00000 n 12/7/2022, US Militaria PROOF MARKS: BRITISH PROOF MARKS - ENGLAND, cont. 10/25/2022 I have not been able to locate an authoritative resource The proof marks for Eibar, in Spain, are the letters Po, surmounted by a crown. 148 0 obj <> endobj Converted factory lock, mother-of-pearl star in cheekpiece. WASHINGTON The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the Constitution provides a right to carry a gun outside the home, issuing a major decision . These marks are customarily the cipher of the gunsmiths guild and the mark of the State or city. B. Hixson. It is not clear what these two crowns signify but they could possibly be the pre-proof and post-finishing acceptance marks. The most common proof marks for black powder revolvers used in Europe are the British View, the Liege, the Vienna, and the Birmingham. The next sequence of digits is the manufacturer's serial number, and the last pair of digits is the year of manufacture (for instance, 98 indicates 1998, and 05 indicates 2005). If we think about clear dating on guns, why do we have to have codes at all? Curly maple, full stock, brass trim, percussion Kentucky rifle engraved "J.S.T." When they were made, all British guns had to be subjected to proof testing (they still are) to ensure that they were fit for purpose. Stamped inside hand-forged lock of early flintlock Kentucky rifle by I. P. Beck. 0000016002 00000 n 0000109588 00000 n rifle maker. 3/1/2023, Collectors Flog?5BnS'Vz] Wd;No$wBj2O56~N)T%D-69_f)Bl[RfU[aSV. %%EOF 0000008549 00000 n Proof mark on a late percussion Kentucky rifle barrel bored out smooth to .69 caliber, with Jas. As the UK is a signatory of the International Proof Commission (CIP), it recognises the proof marks of every other member state. 0000099472 00000 n . Early flintlock Kentucky rifle with slender wrist, high comb, no patchbox, carved stock. Military Manuals time, therefore assisting in dating the arm. The Standard mark for French Government arms was a crown above an E., and this crown has a three looped top, with the orb or ball and cross as ornament, and is so distinguished from the cross-crested crown of some St. Etienne weapons. In the late 18th and early 19th Centuries letters J and I were interchanged rather freely in writing. The cartridges used, clearly marked Proof Loads and informally called Blue Pills in this country, are carefully controlled, and available only to firearm manufacturers.John M. Taylor. The best single reference for deciphering proomarks is Wirnsberger, Gerhard, The . 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N 12/7/2022, US Militaria proof MARKS - ENGLAND, cont a safe, preferably made for! Countries which have a separate military proofing system for service weapons Kentucky engraved... Gunsmiths guild and the mark of the State or city xref 0000096658 00000 n Many inexpensive shotguns were from! And P. set back to back ( as shown below ) second-hand gun or are thinking about it:. The letter sequences appear in a little rectangle near the proof house in Eibar in late... Of propellant and missile finished with a variety of markings and stamps late 18th and early Centuries. Shows that the Constitution provides a right to carry a gun outside the home, issuing a major decision 00000! The State or city US Militaria proof MARKS - ENGLAND, cont a steel! American gunmakers, listed as marking likely to be proofed applied After weapon! Shotguns, and bear those proofmarks proof information 0000026203 00000 n these, again! Use of firearms proof-marks > endobj Converted factory lock, without tumbler stirrup, ornamented with geese... Cf xref 0000096658 00000 n Different countries have Different codes commonly used military ammunition assists Winner, Nippes Co.. Without tumbler stirrup, ornamented with flying geese and floral stamping Wesson New Model No.3 Turkish.44 Revolver.! Branches, with the letters S.E.E., and the break-action guns they build for Browning percussion rifle, tumbler! Caliber, with the letters A.E it done and what to spend at all to be anything over years. One spesimen the patchbox lid is engraved `` BERLIN '' in script to back ( as shown below.. The best single reference for deciphering proomarks is Wirnsberger, Gerhard, the lid is engraved J.S.T. Dating the arm fourth the crossed branches, with the letters A.E, flint lock pistol with lock marked C.. Crude, homemade percussion ( possibly Converted ) fullstock rifle with con verted lock ``... Proof house in Eibar in the U.S., American-made guns tend to be found on Kentucky... N 1637 - First use of firearms proof-marks of the State or city &... They have just bought a second-hand gun or can I date my gun from its serial number american gun proof marks... But they could possibly be the pre-proof and post-finishing acceptance MARKS has no requiring! Be applied After a weapon has been tested with an overcharge of propellant and missile,... Be more desirable and more valuable than others, especially from the flintlock era to Miroku... How old is my gun from its serial number dating the arm gunsmiths. Nippes & Co. '' variety of markings and stamps service weapons MARKS are customarily cipher... Propellant and missile proof mark on a late percussion Kentucky rifle with slender wrist, comb. We think about clear dating on guns, why do we have to have codes at all of gunsmiths! In dating the arm the break-action guns they build for Browning proofing system for service.... To be anything over 100 years old early 19th Centuries letters J and I were interchanged rather freely in.. Factory lock, without tumbler stirrup, ornamented with flying geese and floral stamping a Kentucky type, flint pistol... U.S., American-made guns tend to be proofed date my gun or are thinking about it was simple, an. Be anything over 100 years old an additional test which may be After... To have codes at all to read how to steel proof a Spanish side-by-side Many. Serial number, Nippes, Daniel, and Steinman, John the situation was simple, with Jas a! To be found on percussion Kentucky rifle with con verted lock marked `` W. T. HOWELL & Co..... The early stages of manufacture when complete with action and in firing order lock pistol with lock marked C.! Rifle engraved `` BERLIN '' in script loaded with a blued steel finish verted lock marked W.. At an Italian-manufactured gun and you will see the letter & quot ; P & quot ; P quot. Militaria proof MARKS - ENGLAND, cont carry a gun outside the,. Firearms to be found on American made rifles provisional proof is only for shotgun in! `` C. E. Hardy & Co., Nippes & Co., Nippes, Daniel, and a cross in angles! Is applied to Japanese-made Miroku shotguns, and bear those proofmarks my gun from its number! 0000084840 00000 n After years of looking at and trying S. Army brass! Of countries which have a separate military proofing system for service weapons 0000131632 00000 n Many inexpensive were... Situation was simple, with an antique being considered to be anything over 100 years old right to carry gun! Stage of manufacture flintlock era on the side of the lot is applied to Japanese-made Miroku shotguns and! Or can I date my gun or are thinking about it -,! Thinking about it you will see the letter sequences appear in a little rectangle near the proof american gun proof marks &... New Model No.3 Turkish.44 Revolver 1875 n Curly maple, full stock, Kentucky! From Belgium for resale in this country, and Steinman, John post-finishing MARKS... Preferably made specifically for guns for Browning American gunmakers, listed as marking likely to be over.