The German proof law of 1891 specified that firearms having undergone overpressure proofing with black powder be stamped with a crown/B (Beschuss, proof fired), with crown/U (Untershuchung) being a final proofing indicator. Crown/G (Gezogen, rifled) was stamped on rifled barrels.
With the advent of smokeless powder, German state proof houses became aware that this system was inadequate for proofing firearms designed for the greater power of smokeless powder.
In 1911 the state proof houses in Suhl, Frankfurt/Oder, and Zella-Mehlis devised new specifications for smokeless powder proofing, and specified the crown/N stamp to certify this. This practice went into effect in 1912. NOTE that this was not a change to the German proof law, only a change in the way these proof houses operated. Also, the state proof house in Oberndorf was not involved in this change, and continued to follow the original 1891 marking practices. (The actual German proof law was not revised until 1939.)
So, a Parabellum pistol or a P08 stamped with c/BUG proofs was assembled and proofed before 1912, and a pistol with c/N proof was assembled and proofed after.
--Dwight
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