Hi,
I've pulled a trigger on a very cheap online purchase of a single shot big bore smooth barrelled percussion muzzle loader. I intend to shoot it with shot for fun, but at the same time I'm interested in finding out as much as possible about the history of this gun.
The only marks I can see on the photos (I'll have the gun in about a week time) are (starting from breech area) number 18, number 20.4 (perhaps original bore diameter?), a Belgian provisional proof mark
and three tiny marks that look like letters or digits, but can't be recognised (perhaps a three digit serial number).
The bore diameter is allegedly 21mm, but I can imagine the previous owner made a mistake in measurement and perhaps it is 20.4mm which would make it a 9 bore.
The barrel is heavy octagon transitioning to round. The picture of the underside of the back of the barrel is here:
The main thing that confuses me about this gun is that it has the Belgian provisional proof mark, but no definite proof mark. I read somewhere this particular mark was stamped on barrels blanks and the definite proof was stamped on finished barrels "if they required second proof". I'm not sure what that means exactly. All examples I saw online had the letters ELG as a definite proof, but at the same time all those examples were breech loaders not muzzleloaders. I'm quite puzzled by the fact this mark is missing. My first idea was that perhaps the barrel came from a breech loading gun and someone cut off the breech area that contained the mark when it was being converted to muzzle loader. However, this seems a bit far fetched. Why would anyone convert a breech loading gun to a muzzleloader back then? Also, the way the nipple is installed and the way the stock is suggests that it was made by someone who knows what they were doing - not an amateur.
Also, the numbers 18 and 20.4. I can understand 20.4. It may be the bore diameter in mm. I'll find out when I get the gun, but 18? My initial thought was that maybe it started as a 13 bore which matches 18mm diameter, but then this would be a very heavy barrel for a 13 bore gun. This explanation also seems unlikely to me.
Finally those tiny markings - three digits or letters. The original owner thought this is a serial number. Perhaps he is right.
Can anyone shed any light if those provisional marks were ever used without the definite proof mark, please? Also, any ideas about those other numbers?
I'm attaching two photos of the gun below (the ramrod and the nipple are not original).
I've pulled a trigger on a very cheap online purchase of a single shot big bore smooth barrelled percussion muzzle loader. I intend to shoot it with shot for fun, but at the same time I'm interested in finding out as much as possible about the history of this gun.
The only marks I can see on the photos (I'll have the gun in about a week time) are (starting from breech area) number 18, number 20.4 (perhaps original bore diameter?), a Belgian provisional proof mark
The bore diameter is allegedly 21mm, but I can imagine the previous owner made a mistake in measurement and perhaps it is 20.4mm which would make it a 9 bore.
The barrel is heavy octagon transitioning to round. The picture of the underside of the back of the barrel is here:
The main thing that confuses me about this gun is that it has the Belgian provisional proof mark, but no definite proof mark. I read somewhere this particular mark was stamped on barrels blanks and the definite proof was stamped on finished barrels "if they required second proof". I'm not sure what that means exactly. All examples I saw online had the letters ELG as a definite proof, but at the same time all those examples were breech loaders not muzzleloaders. I'm quite puzzled by the fact this mark is missing. My first idea was that perhaps the barrel came from a breech loading gun and someone cut off the breech area that contained the mark when it was being converted to muzzle loader. However, this seems a bit far fetched. Why would anyone convert a breech loading gun to a muzzleloader back then? Also, the way the nipple is installed and the way the stock is suggests that it was made by someone who knows what they were doing - not an amateur.
Also, the numbers 18 and 20.4. I can understand 20.4. It may be the bore diameter in mm. I'll find out when I get the gun, but 18? My initial thought was that maybe it started as a 13 bore which matches 18mm diameter, but then this would be a very heavy barrel for a 13 bore gun. This explanation also seems unlikely to me.
Finally those tiny markings - three digits or letters. The original owner thought this is a serial number. Perhaps he is right.
Can anyone shed any light if those provisional marks were ever used without the definite proof mark, please? Also, any ideas about those other numbers?
I'm attaching two photos of the gun below (the ramrod and the nipple are not original).