French proof marks
The French proof system is old and start in 1700. There was a short stop in the arms trade during the french revolutions.
The proof laws of 1868 was the hardest one in Europe at that time: half the barrel was filled with black powder, the rest of the barrel was filled with number 9 shot and the rifle was fired. Not surprisingly this was at the time the most violent proof.
Marks up to 1897
|
No
|
Mark
|
Proofhouse
|
Valid
|
Type of proof
|
|
1
|
|
All
|
1782-1810
|
Final black powder proof
|
|
2
|
|
St Etienne
|
1810-1824
|
Proofhouse mark
|
|
3
|
|
Charleville
|
1810-1879
|
Mark for Charleville Proofhouse
|
|
4
|
|
Souilhac
|
1810-1879
|
Mark for Souilhac Proofhouse
|
|
5
|
|
Sailleville
|
1810-1879
|
Mark for Sailleville Proofhouse
|
|
6
|
|
Paris
|
1810-1879
|
Mark for Paris Proofhouse
|
|
7
|
|
Chatellerault
|
1810-1879
|
Mark for Chatellerault
|
|
8
|
|
Tulle
|
1810-1879
|
Mark for Tulle
|
|
9
|
|
Mutzing
|
1810-1867
|
Mark for Mutzing
|
|
10
|
|
Manufacture de l’Etat
|
1810-1879
|
Manufacture de l’Etat
|
|
11
|
|
St Etienne
|
1824-1856
|
Proofhouse mark replace no 2
|
|
12
|
|
St Etienne
|
1856-1869
|
Proofhouse mark, replace no 11.
|
|
13
|
|
All
|
1860-
|
Mark for converted military flintlock guns to percussion
|
|
14
|
|
St Etienne
|
1869-
|
Proofhouse mark, replace no 12.
|
|
15
|
|
St Etienne
|
1879-
|
Guns made in St Etienne
|
|
16
|
|
All
|
1879-
|
For imported guns not made in France
|
|
17
|
|
All but not for St Etienne
|
1879-
|
Mark for guns made in France but not in St Etienne
|
|
18
|
|
All
|
1886-1895
|
Gun proofed in finalized state
|
|
19
|
|
All
|
1893-1897
|
Gun proofed with a re-enforced proof in finalized state.
|
|
20
|
|
All
|
1892-1895
|
Proof of unfinished barrel
|
|
Marks from 1897 to 1923
|
No
|
Paris
|
St Etienne
|
Valid
|
Type of proof
|
|
21
|
|
|
30 July 1897-1923
|
Black powder proof for unfinished barrels
|
|
22
|
|
|
30 July 1897-1923
|
Black powder proof for finished and soldered barrels with a pressure of 14223 psi (pressure adjusted 1923)
|
|
23
|
|
|
30 July 1897-1923
|
Finished and forged barrels with a re-enforced proof with a pressure of 16356 psi (pressure adjusted 1923)
|
|
24
|
|
|
30 July 1897-1923
|
Guns proofed in finished state
|
|
25
|
|
|
30 July 1897-1923
|
Guns proofed with a re-enforced proof in finished state. Replaced no 19.
|
|
66
|
|
|
30 March 1896-1923
|
For barrels proof with semi smokeless J and S powder.
|
|
27
|
|
|
14 May 1898 - 1923
|
For barrels proof with semi smokeless J and S powder.
|
|
28
|
|
|
1900-1923
|
For barrels proof with semi smokeless T powder.
|
|
29
|
|
|
1901-1923
|
Double proof on unfinished barrel with a pressure of 17779 psi (pressure adjusted 1923)
|
|
30
|
|
As 29 but with four crowned crossed palm leafs.
|
1901-1923
|
Treble proof on unfinished barrel
|
|
31
|
|
|
1901-1928
1946->
|
Finished but but not joined
|
|
Marks from 1923 to present day
Barrels are normally marked with barrel length in mm, weight in grams as well with gauge and chamber length in mm.
1962 new a proof law was accepted according to international standard, where the bore is allowed to enlarge more than .008” or 0,2 mm after proof.
|
No
|
Paris
|
St Etienne
|
Valid
|
Type of proof
|
|
32
|
|
|
1923->
|
Temporary proof on internally finished but externally not finished barrels at 16356 psi
|
|
33
|
|
|
1923->
|
Temporary standard proof for barrels designed for multi barrel guns at 14223 psi
|
|
34
|
|
|
1923->
|
Temporary double proof for barrels designed for multi barrel guns at 16356 psi
|
|
35
|
|
|
1923->1962
|
Temporary treble proof for barrels designed for multi barrel guns at 18490 psi
|
|
36
|
|
|
1923-1924
1946->
|
Temporary proof for single barrel in finished state
|
|
37
|
|
|
1923->
|
Final black powder proof
|
|
38
|
|
|
1923->
|
Re-enforced final black powder proof at 11379 psi
|
|
39
|
|
|
1923->
|
Standard final smokeless proof 12090 psi
|
|
40
|
|
|
1923->
|
Standard final smokeless re-enforced proof 15646 psi
|
|
41
|
|
|
1923->
|
For guns in finalized state when proofed, mark added to 39 or 40
|
|
42
|
|
|
1923->
|
Mark for barrels imported to France.
|
|
43
|
|
|
1923->
|
Indicated normal measurements in chamber, in this case that is for 65mm shell (2 1/2 inch)
|
|
44
|
|
|
1962->
|
Smokeless proof for rifles
|
|
45
|
|
|
1923
|
Voluntary proof of 17779 psi.
|
|
46
|
N.A.
|
N.A.
|
1962->
|
For single barrels, together with 45.
|
|
47
|
R
|
|
1962->
|
Reproof black powder proof.
|
|
48
|
|
|
1962->
|
Reproof smokeless powder proof
|
|
49
|
|
|
1962->
|
Re-enforced reproof smokeless powder proof
|
|
Copyright 2010 © shotguns.se
Last update: 2010-03-17
|
