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
|
![](../assets/images/France101.jpg)
|
All
|
1782-1810
|
Final black powder proof
|
2
|
![](../assets/images/France108.jpg)
|
St Etienne
|
1810-1824
|
Proofhouse mark
|
3
|
![](../assets/images/France103.jpg)
|
Charleville
|
1810-1879
|
Mark for Charleville Proofhouse
|
4
|
![](../assets/images/France104.jpg)
|
Souilhac
|
1810-1879
|
Mark for Souilhac Proofhouse
|
5
|
![](../assets/images/France105.jpg)
|
Sailleville
|
1810-1879
|
Mark for Sailleville Proofhouse
|
6
|
![](../assets/images/France106.jpg)
|
Paris
|
1810-1879
|
Mark for Paris Proofhouse
|
7
|
![](../assets/images/France107.jpg)
|
Chatellerault
|
1810-1879
|
Mark for Chatellerault
|
8
|
![](../assets/images/France102.jpg)
|
Tulle
|
1810-1879
|
Mark for Tulle
|
9
|
![](../assets/images/France109.jpg)
|
Mutzing
|
1810-1867
|
Mark for Mutzing
|
10
|
![](../assets/images/France110.jpg)
|
Manufacture de l’Etat
|
1810-1879
|
Manufacture de l’Etat
|
11
|
![](../assets/images/France111.jpg)
|
St Etienne
|
1824-1856
|
Proofhouse mark replace no 2
|
12
|
![](../assets/images/France112.jpg)
|
St Etienne
|
1856-1869
|
Proofhouse mark, replace no 11.
|
13
|
![](../assets/images/France113.jpg)
|
All
|
1860-
|
Mark for converted military flintlock guns to percussion
|
14
|
![](../assets/images/France114.jpg)
|
St Etienne
|
1869-
|
Proofhouse mark, replace no 12.
|
15
|
![](../assets/images/France17.jpg)
|
St Etienne
|
1879-
|
Guns made in St Etienne
|
16
|
![](../assets/images/France115.jpg)
|
All
|
1879-
|
For imported guns not made in France
|
17
|
![](../assets/images/France116.jpg)
|
All but not for St Etienne
|
1879-
|
Mark for guns made in France but not in St Etienne
|
18
|
![](../assets/images/France118.jpg)
|
All
|
1886-1895
|
Gun proofed in finalized state
|
19
|
![](../assets/images/France118.jpg)
|
All
|
1893-1897
|
Gun proofed with a re-enforced proof in finalized state.
|
20
|
![](../assets/images/France119.jpg)
|
All
|
1892-1895
|
Proof of unfinished barrel
|
|
Marks from 1897 to 1923
No
|
Paris
|
St Etienne
|
Valid
|
Type of proof
|
21
|
![](../assets/images/France120.jpg)
|
![](../assets/images/France119.jpg)
|
30 July 1897-1923
|
Black powder proof for unfinished barrels
|
22
|
![](../assets/images/France106.jpg)
|
![](../assets/images/France17.jpg)
|
30 July 1897-1923
|
Black powder proof for finished and soldered barrels with a pressure of 14223 psi (pressure adjusted 1923)
|
23
|
![](../assets/images/France106.jpg) ![](../assets/images/France106.jpg)
|
![](../assets/images/France16.jpg)
|
30 July 1897-1923
|
Finished and forged barrels with a re-enforced proof with a pressure of 16356 psi (pressure adjusted 1923)
|
24
|
![](../assets/images/France121.jpg)
|
![](../assets/images/France122.jpg)
|
30 July 1897-1923
|
Guns proofed in finished state
|
25
|
![](../assets/images/France121.jpg) ![](../assets/images/France121.jpg)
|
|
30 July 1897-1923
|
Guns proofed with a re-enforced proof in finished state. Replaced no 19.
|
66
|
![](../assets/images/France123.jpg)
|
![](../assets/images/France124.jpg)
|
30 March 1896-1923
|
For barrels proof with semi smokeless J and S powder.
|
27
|
![](../assets/images/France125.jpg)
|
![](../assets/images/France124.jpg)
|
14 May 1898 - 1923
|
For barrels proof with semi smokeless J and S powder.
|
28
|
![](../assets/images/France30.jpg)
|
![](../assets/images/France11.jpg)
|
1900-1923
|
For barrels proof with semi smokeless T powder.
|
29
|
![](../assets/images/France121.jpg) ![](../assets/images/France121.jpg) ![](../assets/images/France121.jpg)
|
![](../assets/images/France15.jpg)
|
1901-1923
|
Double proof on unfinished barrel with a pressure of 17779 psi (pressure adjusted 1923)
|
30
|
![](../assets/images/France121.jpg) ![](../assets/images/France121.jpg) ![](../assets/images/France121.jpg) ![](../assets/images/France121.jpg)
|
As 29 but with four crowned crossed palm leafs.
|
1901-1923
|
Treble proof on unfinished barrel
|
31
|
![](../assets/images/France127.jpg)
|
![](../assets/images/France126.jpg)
|
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
|
![](../assets/images/France120.jpg)
|
![](../assets/images/France119.jpg)
|
1923->
|
Temporary proof on internally finished but externally not finished barrels at 16356 psi
|
33
|
![](../assets/images/France106.jpg)
|
![](../assets/images/France17.jpg)
|
1923->
|
Temporary standard proof for barrels designed for multi barrel guns at 14223 psi
|
34
|
![](../assets/images/France106.jpg) ![](../assets/images/France106.jpg)
|
![](../assets/images/France16.jpg)
|
1923->
|
Temporary double proof for barrels designed for multi barrel guns at 16356 psi
|
35
|
|
![](../assets/images/France15.jpg)
|
1923->1962
|
Temporary treble proof for barrels designed for multi barrel guns at 18490 psi
|
36
|
![](../assets/images/France127.jpg)
|
![](../assets/images/France126.jpg)
|
1923-1924
1946->
|
Temporary proof for single barrel in finished state
|
37
|
![](../assets/images/France121.jpg)
|
![](../assets/images/France122.jpg)
|
1923->
|
Final black powder proof
|
38
|
![](../assets/images/France121.jpg) ![](../assets/images/France121.jpg)
|
![](../assets/images/France128.jpg)
|
1923->
|
Re-enforced final black powder proof at 11379 psi
|
39
|
![](../assets/images/France30.jpg)
|
![](../assets/images/France11.jpg)
|
1923->
|
Standard final smokeless proof 12090 psi
|
40
|
![](../assets/images/France31.jpg)
|
![](../assets/images/France10.jpg)
|
1923->
|
Standard final smokeless re-enforced proof 15646 psi
|
41
|
![](../assets/images/France39.jpg)
|
![](../assets/images/France12.jpg)
|
1923->
|
For guns in finalized state when proofed, mark added to 39 or 40
|
42
|
![](../assets/images/France129.jpg)
![](../assets/images/France130.jpg)
|
![](../assets/images/France129.jpg)
![](../assets/images/France130.jpg)
|
1923->
|
Mark for barrels imported to France.
|
43
|
|
![](../assets/images/France131.jpg)
|
1923->
|
Indicated normal measurements in chamber, in this case that is for 65mm shell (2 1/2 inch)
|
44
|
![](../assets/images/France34.jpg)
|
![](../assets/images/France35.jpg)
|
1962->
|
Smokeless proof for rifles
|
45
|
![](../assets/images/France121.jpg) ![](../assets/images/France121.jpg) ![](../assets/images/France121.jpg)
|
![](../assets/images/France15.jpg)
|
1923
|
Voluntary proof of 17779 psi.
|
46
|
N.A.
|
N.A.
|
1962->
|
For single barrels, together with 45.
|
47
|
R
|
![](../assets/images/France7.jpg)
|
1962->
|
Reproof black powder proof.
|
48
|
![](../assets/images/France37.jpg)
|
![](../assets/images/France6.jpg)
|
1962->
|
Reproof smokeless powder proof
|
49
|
![](../assets/images/France38.jpg)
|
|
1962->
|
Re-enforced reproof smokeless powder proof
|
|
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Last update: 2010-03-17
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