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Joined: Dec 2001
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
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If I am reading the proofmarks correctly this was first proofed as a .577 BPE. With the smokeless proof does this mean it is now a nitro express? ![[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]](https://i.imgur.com/IVYY69X.jpg)
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
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Mike, I'm more familiar with the Belgian shotgun proof marks, but what I see on this gun is that it was nitro proofed between 1898 and 1924. Looks like only one set of marks to me. What makes you think it was reproofed? As Argo said, I'm sure we'll get a good answer from Dr. Drew and/or Raimey shortly. https://damascus-barrels.com/Belgian_All_Proofmarks.html
Last edited by MattH; 12/04/25 09:44 PM. Reason: Spelling
----MattH
President, Ga. Vintagers
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
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The word express to me means black powder express. Maybe wrong. But the rampant lion over PG is for smokeless powder proof.
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Joined: Jan 2006
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2006
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The crowned R indicates rifled barrels > 8mm after 1897
Yes, it does carry the post-1898 Smokeless Proof mark, which could be requested by the maker at an additional cost. It is however the later stylized lion but I can't find when it was first used. It is typically used on post-1910 shotguns.
It does not have a lettre annale so proved prior to 1922
The Belgian proof house did not have a reproof mark; there would be a 2nd set of marks
The '557' and 'EXPRESS' have different fonts but I haven't seen enough Belgian BPE rifles to know if that is abnormal
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
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Can you pleasure us w/ a foto of the weight of the tubeset as well as the water-table?
Serbus,
Raimey
rse
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
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The 1906 revisions of Banc D'Epreuves Des Armes a Feu De Liege are here https://books.google.com/books?id=5fxGAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA53&lpgScroll down to p. 77 and it shows the stylized lion smokeless proof so the gun should date thereafter The font of 'EXPRESS' shown is different The pressure to which Nitro Express are proved is not shown.
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Joined: Aug 2007
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2007
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Thus far, I do not see >>B. BLINDÉE<< or >>B. PLOMB<<.
Serbus,
Raimey
rse
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
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Per the decrees of 1897 & 1898, there were say 25 semi-smokeless powders that could be used. By 1924, there were at least 19 powders.
But the stamp of the Rampant Lion of PV was first used in October 1898 to denote a military calibre less than 8mm. Then in 1903 the mark would denote all rifled barrels larger than 0.22". Now, it doesn't say all >>Military<< calibres, but it was originally for that.
Serbus,
Raimey
rse
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Joined: Aug 2007
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
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Sources give that >>B. BLINDÉE<<, and possibly >B. PLOMB<<, were in use since 1910 and typically were coupled w/ the >>Commercial Name<< of the cartridge, but akin to Hause, I just have not see that many Belgian double rifles. But post 1924, the brace of stamps should be found & coupled.
Serbus,
Raimey
rse
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