doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Help identifying maker and proofs on a Belgian gun

I recently puchase an old hammer gun in 12ga with 2 1/2" chambers. The gun is marked Richard. However, I can't find any information on a Belgian maker by that name. I will post photos this evening. It is a rather nice gun with some interesting stock work. It has very small brass studs inserted into each diamond in the pattern on the grip and forearm. Also a floral design is worked into the "checkering" (if you can call i that) and the base of the grip. It has some fairly nice engraving and overall the gun is very slender.

I know it is a Belgian gun so I don't need the usual negative comments on them. I am just looking for any info on the maker and what the remainder of the unidentified proof marks are.
I believe it is only proofed for BP and not meant for modern powder. I am wondering though aboutthe optional superior provisional BP proof.I saw that if there are two of the EL marks this was for superior poofing. Do they have to be side by side or can they be one below each other like on mine?
Also does anyone know when serial numbers were first started as a general requirment? The gun has them on the barrel and the action.

Below is a drawing I made of the underside of the barrels showing the proof marks. I have identified some, but not all. Any help would be appreciated.

Likely a Janssen Fils & Cie Trade Name gun
http://www.littlegun.be/arme%20belge/art...%20cie%20gb.htm
Scroll down about 1/2 way here for several variants http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/20091267

Note the gauge number over C enclosed in the diamond mark was replaced in June 1924 with a long stylized C with gauge & chamber length in side as C12-65 with the C top & bottom gining out to the end of chamber length. This gun would thus be a pre 1924 gun. Many of the early inspector marks are unavailable & often later inspectors had the same initials.

JF&C is the mark of Joseph Janssen
http://damascus-barrels.com/Belgian_Trade_Marks.html

Here are the proof marks:
http://damascus-barrels.com/Belgian_All_Proofmarks.html

Miller is correct about the dating. Also the Controller of Proof marks are meaningless prior to 1924.

Pete

Nicely done drawing by the way.

Thanks for the replys so far! Here are some photos of the gun. What age would you estimate it being?

1898-1924 is about as good as you're going to get. There were a lot of hammerguns produced in Belgium well into the 20th century. It could about as easily be from the early 1920's as the late 1890's. I believe Janssen was in business for that entire period.