British Proofs In a Circle or Not...?

Pete Ebbink · 06-06-2002, 08:44 PM

When some folks on the old Forum were helpng me two months back to ID some British proof marks on my '41 byf Black Widow,I could not figure out why all my British proof house marks are fully encircled and other Forum members mentioned proof marks without being encircled.

I got a copy of Gerhard Wirnberger's "The Standard Directory of Proof Marks" a few days ago and think I found my answer :

On pages 109 and 111, Mr. Wirnsberger states that if the gun was foreign made (i.e. not in England), the British proof house would use proof marks that are fully encircled. If the gun was made in England but needed to be proofed, the same proof marks were used without a circle.

For example Crown/NP encircled versus Crown/NP without a circle.

My Black Widow has all encircled proof marks as follows : Crown/NP, Crown/GP, and Crown/V.

<img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" /> This luger detective work is so much fun !!! <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />

06-06-2002, 08:44 PM	#1
Pete Ebbink User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The USA Posts: 5,919 Thanks: 0 Thanked 7 Times in 5 Posts	British Proofs In a Circle or Not...? When some folks on the old Forum were helpng me two months back to ID some British proof marks on my '41 byf Black Widow,I could not figure out why all my British proof house marks are fully encircled and other Forum members mentioned proof marks without being encircled. I got a copy of Gerhard Wirnberger's "The Standard Directory of Proof Marks" a few days ago and think I found my answer : On pages 109 and 111, Mr. Wirnsberger states that if the gun was foreign made (i.e. not in England), the British proof house would use proof marks that are fully encircled. If the gun was made in England but needed to be proofed, the same proof marks were used without a circle. For example Crown/NP encircled versus Crown/NP without a circle. My Black Widow has all encircled proof marks as follows : Crown/NP, Crown/GP, and Crown/V. <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" /> This luger detective work is so much fun !!! <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />