An individual called yesterday asking if I had any information on a J.N. Scotts hammerless double; and as I've owned an example for years, told him that I owned one but knew nothing about Scotts except that I'd heard he'd been the manager of a very large sporting goods department for Simmons Hardware in St. Louis, MO.; and speculated that he might have marketed a gun line branded with his name while at Simmons, but I've no real idea.
The gun I have is a true sidelock, is well fitted and finished and very much a quality "no-name" shotgun still in great condition. It is also a 14 gauge, which makes it unusual and uncommon. This individual sent pics of his gun; it is identical to mine with minor engraving differences, and gauge. There are zero serial numbers on either gun and no grade stamps; both are stamped "Not For Ball" so I'm assuming an early 1880's manufacturing date perhaps? Thoughts?
As I've not studied foreign guns I'm quite ignorant of same and need help. Proof stamps on both are definitely Belgium with the only differences being what I believe to be chamber and bore size stamps. Barrel tubes on mine are stamped "14B" over "16M". I'm certain the "14B" stamp denotes chamber size, so do I interpret the stamp "16M" as bore size? The other Scotts gun is stamped "11B" over "12M", so is this gun an 11 gauge with a bore size equivalent to 12 gauge? Thanks in advance for tolerating my ignorance.

Trying to help Tom, but I'm always wrong re: British proof marks

The 'B' (breech) and 'M' (muzzle) marks were used 1875-1887, as was "NOT FOR BALL".
I do not know how far from the breech and muzzle these numbers were measured; post-1887 it was at 9".
11 = .751"
12 = .729"
14 = .693"
16 = .662"

I was wrong again. The 'B' is bore
See BL2
https://www.shotguns.se/html/uk.html

When I ran into this I assumed B is bore (14 and M is the choke at muzzle indicating .031 choke. More answers are sure to come.

Thanks Gentlemen. I did a little research on the web and found a some information. As Doc noted the "Not For Ball" stamp indicates a manufacture date between 1875 and 1887. The number stamps 14 and 14B apparently denotes that bore diameter nine inches from the breech is that of a 14 gauge; and the 16M stamp means that bore diameter at the muzzle is equivalent to a 16 gauge bore, in other words the barrels are choked. At any rate a 14 gauge shell fits perfectly in the chambers, so it is indeed a 14 gauge. Interestingly the barrel markings on this gun are exactly the same as the markings found on a WC Scott barrel set, so would my gun have been made by that firm and marketed under a trade name (it is not a low quality piece). I'd been lead to believe that JN Scotts was a trade name used by Simmons Hardware Co of St. Louis with the gun named after the manager of their sporting goods department, JN Scott. In checking the web I was surprised at the number of postings regarding JN Scotts shotguns, (all were hammer guns); but some did reference a St. Louis address on the rib. Any thoughts? Interestingly, while checking I found a for sale posting listing a 12-bore JN Scotts double at Quality Arms in Houston, TX and was astounded with their $4500 asking price! The gun is hammerless and virtually identical to my gun except for bore size. Mine is in better condition; although the fact that it is makes perfect sense; where would one find 14 gauge shells to be able to actually use the danged thing?

Greener's The Gun, 1885
https://books.google.com/books?id=LAsAAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA319&vq

TG,

Regarding your thoughts that your gun (or barrels) may have been made by W. & C. Scott & Son, I copy the results of my research on this question in a thread from last year: (from a Sherman Bell article in the DGJ)

...Scott aggressively marketed his guns outside of Great Britain. Between 1860 and 1886 he made many trips to America to visit firearms dealers to promote Scott guns and organize a network of importers.
...there are probably more Scott guns in this country than those from most other British makers.
...the Scott company would make a gun to a price... The ever practical Americans bought these plain, but very good guns by the thousands.
...Scott made many guns for other makers.

Thanks again Gentlemen; great information; and based on what I've learned I do believe now that the subject gun was made by W & C Scott for the US trade.