Birmingham date code - 03/03/19 12:41 AM
1951? The dot (.) in the top middle has me stumped.
1951? The dot (.) in the top middle has me stumped.
Re: Birmingham date code - 03/03/19 01:10 PM
Not sure about the dot either. The best source I have on that mark says that after 1950, it was changed to a circle divided into 3 sections. However, I have a Webley & Scott 700, 1969-70 vintage, which still carries the old mark like yours.
What other proofmarks does your gun have? If yours has the proofmarks from 1925-54 (shot charge and chamber length) and if that's a B in the left quadrant (I can't tell from the photo if it's a B or an R), then it should be 1951. But if your gun has the pre-1925 proofmarks (shot charge marked but not the chamber length), then it would be 1922-23.
What other proofmarks does your gun have? If yours has the proofmarks from 1925-54 (shot charge and chamber length) and if that's a B in the left quadrant (I can't tell from the photo if it's a B or an R), then it should be 1951. But if your gun has the pre-1925 proofmarks (shot charge marked but not the chamber length), then it would be 1922-23.
Re: Birmingham date code - 03/03/19 01:56 PM
Re: Birmingham date code - 03/03/19 02:00 PM
Its on a unique BSA, this one has a crossbolt, never seen a BSA with a cross bolt!
Re: Birmingham date code - 03/03/19 05:03 PM
Confirm BB would be 1951. The number 2 denotes that the deputy Proof Master was on that day.
I don't think I have ever seen a BSA with a cross bolt either. The 'W' in front of the serial number would indicate that the gun was one of a batch that was sent to the RAF in WWII to train air gunners the importance of lead at moving targets. BSA had them back and refurbished them before re-selling to the gun trade. A gun with a history. Lagopus…..
I don't think I have ever seen a BSA with a cross bolt either. The 'W' in front of the serial number would indicate that the gun was one of a batch that was sent to the RAF in WWII to train air gunners the importance of lead at moving targets. BSA had them back and refurbished them before re-selling to the gun trade. A gun with a history. Lagopus…..
Re: Birmingham date code - 03/03/19 06:52 PM
Hello lagopus,
If the gun was proofed in 1951 (as per the date code) it follows that any use prior (ww11) must have been risky without knowing proof etc. Or was 1951 a reproof ?
Regards, mrwmartin
If the gun was proofed in 1951 (as per the date code) it follows that any use prior (ww11) must have been risky without knowing proof etc. Or was 1951 a reproof ?
Regards, mrwmartin
Re: Birmingham date code - 03/03/19 09:24 PM
Mr Martin brings a good point about proof date! It is a regent model made for the RAF and has the W488 from the factory and the equipment/inventory number from the RAF. What caught my curiosity was the period in the top middle of the date mark.
Re: Birmingham date code - 03/05/19 09:32 AM
Any signs of prior Military Proof marks . These were used by branch proof houses , BSA and Webley had one , for military arms . Military proof was not acceptable or recognized by civilian authorities and guns proofed under military proof were considered as unproved arms outside of the military .
Re: Birmingham date code - 03/05/19 11:37 AM
Originally Posted By: gunman
Any signs of prior Military Proof marks . These were used by branch proof houses , BSA and Webley had one , for military arms . Military proof was not acceptable or recognized by civilian authorities and guns proofed under military proof were considered as unproved arms outside of the military .
So what I thought was the inventory/equipment number was actually the military proof, all regent models for the RAF share the same number it's 9B/2592 there are no other markings aside from B'ham proof marks and BSA marks.
Re: Birmingham date code - 03/06/19 04:03 PM
I would think that it would have been re-proofed in 1951 after BSA got it back for refurbishment. They were guns made for the civilian market with a number being bought for the RAF along with some Webley's so never made for military as such. It should have the re-proof mark of the 'R' and the crown but it may have been missed off. I've seen a few guns with marks missed off or applied in error. I have a T.Wild hammer gun with no nominal bore mark so it was impossible to say whether or not it was in or out of proof and I have a Damascus barrelled gun that went in for nitro re-proof and came back with one barrel marked 'Sleeved'. Mistakes do occur from time to time. Lagopus…..