New SxS picked up Europeon maker?
Yesterday I picked up a really nice looking side-by-side coach gun with external hammers, but I'm not finding any name of a maker on it.
Lots of proof marks under the barrels. Millimeter dimensions. Also found a phrase in French on the outside of each one.
Said..."Eprouve Aux Poudres Vives"
Found a 1927 Bayard looked similar but the grip is more sleek on this one, no protuberance behind the trigger guard. Just a clean line to the butt. I believe the shock absorbing butt plate replaced the original.
Nice scroll work on the hammer area. Fine detailed work all around the break.
Found this here and it's REAL close. Minor differences in checkering. I see some words on the seam between the barrels on this GB auction that I don't have on mine.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=248270152
Anyone have a lead I can follow to find out more about it?
Here's what I can get into frame:
COB
Lots of proof marks under the barrels. Millimeter dimensions. Also found a phrase in French on the outside of each one.
Said..."Eprouve Aux Poudres Vives"
Found a 1927 Bayard looked similar but the grip is more sleek on this one, no protuberance behind the trigger guard. Just a clean line to the butt. I believe the shock absorbing butt plate replaced the original.
Nice scroll work on the hammer area. Fine detailed work all around the break.
Found this here and it's REAL close. Minor differences in checkering. I see some words on the seam between the barrels on this GB auction that I don't have on mine.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=248270152
Anyone have a lead I can follow to find out more about it?
Here's what I can get into frame:
COB
0
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Are the proof marks secret?
May we please see pictures.
It is probably a guild (cottage industry) gun put together in Belgium for the Colonial trade. Either the assembler was not proud enough of his work to put his name or a trademark on it, or no one shop had done enough work on it to tell who was responsible for it.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Hawk Carse
Are the proof marks secret?
May we please see pictures.
It is probably a guild (cottage industry) gun put together in Belgium for the Colonial trade. Either the assembler was not proud enough of his work to put his name or a trademark on it, or no one shop had done enough work on it to tell who was responsible for it.
I haven't gotten to take the photos yet. Was searching to see if I could find any clues first. Will attempt close ups and post to original question. Thanks for the first clue.
COB0 -
I believe that "Eprouve Aux Poudres Vives" means that the barrels have been proved for smokeless powder.
Sounds like a Belgian hammer gun that has been bubbaed. I have seen a lot of them over the years, most have 30" plus barrels. The cut barrels and the pad make it seem like it was reworked in the States. Even with the smokeless marking on the barrels, I wouldn't push my luck with it. Chances are it is almost 100 years old, most of the hammer guns were imported prior to the German occupation in 1914.0 -
Does anyone know a place where I can find the who goes with which proof mark?
COB0 -
quote:Originally posted by COBmmcmss
Does anyone know a place where I can find the who goes with which proof mark?
COB
GOOGLE, "belgian proof marks"0 -
There is a chart of Belgian proof marks at:
http://damascus-barrels.com/Belgian_All_Proofmarks.html
You can probably get within some very broad range of dates but there is very little "who" to find out. The proof house was a government operation with no requirement that the maker mark his work.
I think made sometime between 1903 (mark 19) and 1924 (mark 24.)
Showing 70/20.6 as in mark 17 indicates 70mm = 2 3/4" chambers, which is fairly unusual on older European guns. That does not necessarily mean it is safe to shoot, but it is a step in the right direction.0
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