Does anyone speak, Belgian Proof Marks? AGAIN...

yorgi

yorgi

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
151   0   0
Location
Toronto, Ontario
Recently acquired an old Belgian side by side shotgun. I'm trying to figure out what I have but my Google-Fu is shortcircuiting with regards to properly identifying it.
The only marking on the shotgun is " J. Manton and Co." so I'm trying to identify it properly by the Proof marks, I'm not getting very far... Any help would be appreciated.

I think, I figured out a couple of things about it, just need some insight from the CGN SXS posse... Here's what I think I have.

  • 12 gauge trade gun possibly made by Pieper
  • 2 1/2" chamber
  • Made prior to 1924
  • Absolutely cannot make any sense of the barrel choke constrictions...
  • what is the significace of the "17.C" stamped on the extreme left side of proof pic?

And here are a couple of pics of the shotgun and proof marks, thanks.

q3Ap2i6.jpg

8BYqJXS.jpg
 
Last edited:
I think your markings indicate
17.5? ( can't read clearly) Over18.1 for the left barrel, indicating .6 mm of choke. The right barrel shows a single mark, 18.0, so no choke or cylinder measuring 18 mm.
The marks farther up the barrels, to our left in the photo would represent the initial measurement of the barrel before it was finish bored to size. What you read as 17 C is likely a sloppy incomplete 17.0 .
Note also the incomplete ELG in oval stamp at the breech end of the left barrel. Same guy probably did it, too much schnapps the night before.
 
I can't be sure it was 2 1/2", some markings are poorly stamped, but from this period 2 1/2" would be standard. However, in the last 100 years bubba has had lots of time to "improve" it. A measurement is the only way to know for sure what it is today. Because of the origins of this gun I would be very wary if it has been modified.
 
From the way the choke and bore measurements are stamped, the manufacture date would be between 1910 and 1924. It looks like black powder proof only.
 
Pinfire said:
From the way the choke and bore measurements are stamped, the manufacture date would be between 1910 and 1924. It looks like black powder proof only.
Click to expand...

Thank you Pinfire, appreciate the info! Seeing that things are opening up slowly in Ontario, I'm hoping that the annual SXS shoot in Oshawa will take place after all. Your collection display is always amazing!
 
yorgi said:
Thank you Pinfire, appreciate the info! Seeing that things are opening up slowly in Ontario, I'm hoping that the annual SXS shoot in Oshawa will take place after all. Your collection display is always amazing!
Click to expand...

We hope so too. But for the time being, Oshawa has a strict no guests/members only policy in effect along with maximum group size of 4. Only time will tell when this will change.
 
Reviving a necrothread because another Belgian Guild gun (Centaure) came to my possession.

I THINK it was made in 1926, Nitro-Proofed but the 12-55 has me stumped... It's a 12 Gauge but does the 55 signify that it's chambered for a 2 1/2" shell?

WBfYmTh.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom