doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com A mess of proof marks

A friend is looking at buying this William Ford 16 gauge. It's been sleeved, which doesn't necessarily mean it's bad, but I'm trying to sort out the proof marks.



It's as much of a mess as I've seen.

This mark:



...which is grainy, and took some enhancement to dig out, is pretty clearly an N and a C, which makes me think 1987 for the sleeving.

These two marks say 1896 - 1904 for original manufacture date



...an given what we know about this maker's serial numbers, towards the end of that time frame.

I think it was proved 2 times before sleeving in 87'

Yes, the initial proof was 1896-1904 confirmed by the 1 oz. MAXIMUM
Bore then was 17/1 = .655" - .661"

54-89 it was proved again, with 2 1/2" chamber for 3 Tons

It was proved after sleeving now with 2 3/4" chambers for 3 1/4 Tons for a max. service pressure of 9,800 psi. That was probably when the bore of .661" was marked.

It is relatively uncommon for the Birmingham Proof House to deface the previous marks from the London Proof House

Ah, either British Proof Facility have zero respect & deface all....

Hochachtungsvoll,

Raimey
rse

Thanks again, Drew. That 2nd proof is hard to nail down, and there's no real reason to do so given the final '87 proof.

The 2 1/2" chamber length had to be after 1925, and there are 3 date codes



I think L C for 85', likely with bad news, leading to N C (twice) after sleeving in 87'

Thanks - I missed that completely.

My friend got the gun today and delighted with it. He's got other English guns - including a Purdey - so he's reasonably familiar with what it should be.

Looks to be in pretty nice condition...I wonder if the engraving has been refreshed?

Photos: