Antique Gun Makers Marks

There are literally thousands of small individual makers and often such guns are unsigned with no sure way to identify the maker.

Antique gun makers marks. The majority of marks will be found on the barrel flats though early guns may have stamps on the tubes under the forend. Many collectors that specialize in a specific type or era of antiques generally only recognize the most well known of the maker s marks along with the marks of pieces they have a special interest in collecting. Armourers marks are quite distinct from proof marks and comprise the private marks ciphers stamps or signatures of the individual armourers or gunsmiths. Most specimen marks are of this nature and it is no unusual thing to find the.

Proof marks 2403 the proof marks shown below will assist in determining nationality of manufacturers when no other markings are evident. The use of the word circa or c. They are often found in combination with proof marks and still more frequently on unproved arms made in countries where no official proof was existent. Serial marks may be stamped on the chamber on antique guns.

Manufacturers voluntarily proof their firearms with a specifed style of proofmark i e. Has no proofing houses as in england france germany and other european countries most u s. Marks are clues to an antique s past many antiques have marks on the underside that are stamped impressed or painted. This date is shown on each antique detail page.

The buttplate or buttstock is the section often stamped with a maker s mark or name. Examine the buttplate or buttstock. The interlocked wpª synonymous with the winchester. In these cases an expert hands on inspection may result in a reasonable estimate of value based on such factors as probable maker condition quality of.

Is to indicate that the date is close to date shown. On antique guns the buttplate or buttstock was sometimes made from wood as in the case of civil war era guns. The sellingantiques co uk site uses cookies. French silver marks online encyclopedia of silver marks hallmarks makers marks.

Circa 1920 means close to the year 1920. These are original antique muzzleloaders that are made by individual gunsmiths or small manufacturing concerns usually prior to the era of mass production but sometimes well into the mid 19th century. When they were made all british guns had to be subjected to proof testing they still are to ensure that they were fit for purpose. Many old guns may have been re proved once or more often in a different proof house from the original one.