Drew - interesting links; thanks.
Got pix to post rather than links!!
So, summing up my thoughts:
Locks removed: no harm, no foul. No additional marks visible. Will have to wait a while for a strip and clean, condition isn't that bad. Hammers/tumblers are gold washed. Look at the uniformity of the gap in the hammer springs....you won't find this on Spanish guns. The skill of that period never ceases to amaze me.
The * over M is on Larry's Francotte, but on the action flat, not barrel. It is visible (just barely) on the pix of the action flats.
The MC in the diamond on the action flats are still a mystery....importer's marks into the US??
Inletting is something else, as with most guns of that era.
The same merged "controllers mark" is shown on one of Drew's links.
The rest of the specs:
BBLs are 28 3/8"; choked .007/.014. Weight with Old English pad is 6 1/4 lbs. I have 2 other vintage 16 guns, and the dynamics of this gun are noticeably superior, and the other 2 are no slouches.
Keep comments coming; always something to learn from these exchanges.
Oh, I forgot to mention, this is #2 of a pair (sigh!).
