Firearms licensing: proof
Foreign proof marks . . . continued
It should be borne in mind that all countries have made changes in their proof marks from time to time and it is not practical to include within these pages all the proof marks that have been used over many years.
It should also be observed that proof in France was optional until 1960 and there have been marks impressed by some French gunmakers, which appear to the layman, to be official proof marks, but are not.
Additionally there were proof marks used in Austria, Germany and Italy which were valid in this country before and up to the outbreak of World War ll, but which are now invalid and have been replaced by new marks. Care must be taken in differentiating between the old unacceptable marks, and the newer valid type.
A book containing all the currently valid, foreign and UK proof marks, is available at a small charge from the London and Birmingham Proof Houses.
In general the importation of foreign arms, bearing no proof marks or bearing marks not now recognised is an offence, unless those arms are submitted to a Proof House within 28 days of arrival. The sale of such guns unproved would constitute a further offence. This warning applies particularly to arms made in countries where there are no official Proof Houses.
Rules of proof
Rules, Regulations and Scales of Proof, a schedule to the Proof Act, are the working instructions of the two Proof Houses. The Rules specify the pressure to be used in proof, standards of view and the marks to be impressed on guns which pass proof, together with such detail as bore and chamber dimensions, proof and service pressures.
The latest Rules of Proof, those of 1989, were approved by the Secretary of State, to come into force on 1st November 1989. However, proof under earlier Rules of 1875, 1887, 1896, 1904, 1916, 1925, 1954 and 1986 remain valid provided that the barrel or action has not been materially weakened or altered so that it no longer conforms with that proof mark.
Black powder guns
Many shotguns proved under Proof Rules before 1904, when the nitro proof marks were introduced, and some shotguns proved before 1925, when nitro proof became compulsory, were proved only for use with black powder.
Such guns will not bear any of the nitro proof marks. It should be clearly understood that, whilst such guns may be proved for black powder, they are unlikely to be legally proved and must be deemed unsuitable for use with present day cartridges, until they pass a nitro proof test.
Types of proof
There are two main types of proof:
Provisional proof in general applies only to shotgun barrels in an early stage of manufacture and is designed to prevent the maker continuing work on defective tubes.
Definitive proof applies to all arms and is effected either in the "white" or in the finished state.
Additionally there is a special proof to cover loads developing pressures in excess of normal service loads. This can be either as a voluntary proof, to satisfy a particular requirement, or as a compulsory proof where the arms are designed for unusually heavy loads.