Antique letter for Belgian pistol - looking for support

[Brian James]

I’ve conditionally purchased a percussion pistol in the US and it doesn’t have a makers name or makers stamp. However it has numerous Belgian markings as you can see below.

My goal is to obtain an antique letter from the RCMP to facilitate bring it into the country. I am wondering if any fellow CGNers have obtained a letter based on the proof-marks in the photo below.

My concern is some reference material states the Belgian (Leige) oval logo has been in use since 1846- to present for muzzleloaders. This doesn’t help prove it’s an antique sadly.

Other reference material online state the logo was used “in its small version it’s a black powder mark on small pistols and revolvers barrels 1866-1893”. Sadly I can’t find that published in a book.

Pre handgun import ban I would just register it if there was problem while doing additional research, but that’s not an option currently.

Any advice or guidance would be appreciated. If you have a good reference book on proof marks, or pre 1898 Belgian inspectors marks please let me know.

Thanks

Brian

PS I have wondered if the bore diameter could help date the pistol as they began stamping bore dimeters at one point in different increments.

 

[tiriaq]

The ELG proof mark establishes antique status. If there were a crown in the design, there would be a problem. But your pistol is clearly pre '98.

 

[Old Guns Canada]

Here is what the marks mean:
1. 10.8 is probably the bore, 10.8mm (.40?)
2. the "perron" which is a candlestick means the barrel is a tip-down or single-shot breech loading gun. Used since 1853 and still in use today
3. The intertwined E and L is the provisional Liege proofmark used since 1853 as well. Still used today.
4. The ELG in an oval stands for "Eprouve a Liege Garantie" (Guaranteed Liege Proof) and was used from 1811 to 1893. In July of 1893 they Belgian government added a crown above the oval, which is still in use today.
5. The letter D with the star above it is the inspector's mark. In 1877 they changed from a crown to a star (apparently due to pressure from the British who claimed to have a monopoly on the "crown"...)

Yours would indicate manufacture between 1877 and 1893.

 

[KotKotofeich]

In my experience he ELG proofmark with no crown is sufficient, go ahead and submit

 

[Brian James]

I’ve submitted a series of photos to the RCMP Technicians yesterday.

Thank you everyone for the the support!

 

[Brian James]

Looking for some help - I found a reference that the ELG in an oval with 5 pointed star was used on handguns between 1866-1893. Would anyone know which book this came from? Looking for a reference better than a webpage.

Why- it appears an ELG in an Oval with 5 pointed star is not sufficient to determine a muzzleloader is an antique.

 

[KotKotofeich]

Wait, is this a muzzle loader? then yes, ELG no crown stayed in use for BP muzzle loaders... If you are looking for a book, you can reference Firearms, the Law, and Forensic Ballistics - Page 409, Tom Warlow · 2011 and it's available on google books.

Is it rifled or smoothbore? If rifled you can point out that there is no R crown that would be used after 1894 on rifled barrels? (same book, page 411)

 

[cooey43]

I have sent in pics of Belgiun Proof Marks to RCMP & learned ;
Your Proof mark of " LEG with star" inside an oval was used from 1811 to 1892 = Antique

BTW : Your Proof mark with aditional crown on top was used from 1893 ,,,,,,,,, on = not Antique

So you are good to send in pic to RCMP to get antique letter.

 

[Brian James]

Thanks for the response - yes it’s a rifled precision pistol.

Wait, is this a muzzle loader? then yes, ELG no crown stayed in use for BP muzzle loaders... If you are looking for a book, you can reference Firearms, the Law, and Forensic Ballistics - Page 409, Tom Warlow · 2011 and it's available on google books.

Is it rifled or smoothbore? If rifled you can point out that there is no R crown that would be used after 1894 on rifled barrels? (same book, page 411)