i continue to be impressed with the unusual designs that crop up among the french guns....and many of which, like this gun, are well thought out and nicely executed. the standard proof mark, with a single crossed fronds, is still a very substantial proof test - equal or superior to any nation's "standard" level of proof.
french guns are always difficult to accurately date, but powder T is fairly certain to indicate post 1900 proofing....and the fact that the chamber measurement is expressed in centimeters, rather than millimeters, was generally thought to put the guns in a time period ending about 1912. however, argo44 has done some ferreting recently that seem to extend cm's usage toward the end of ww1.
the X shaped mark may be the "proofed in the finished state" mark - but it is usually proportioned broader than tall, and looks like two crossed lightening bolts. the mark you show seems to have letters (R?, L?) that are framing the x.
at any rate, another interesting french gun; thanks for the tour.
best regards,
tom
