France

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French proof marks

The French proof system is old and start in 1700. There was a short stop in the arms trade during the french revolutions.

The proof laws of 1868 was the hardest one in Europe at that time: half the barrel was filled with black powder, the rest of the barrel was filled with number 9 shot and the rifle was fired. Not surprisingly this was at the time the most violent proof.

Marks up to 1897

No

Mark

Proofhouse

Valid

Type of proof

1

All

1782-1810

Final black powder proof

2

St Etienne

1810-1824

Proofhouse mark

3

Charleville

1810-1879

Mark for Charleville Proofhouse

4

Souilhac

1810-1879

Mark for Souilhac Proofhouse

5

Sailleville

1810-1879

Mark for Sailleville Proofhouse

6

Paris

1810-1879

Mark for Paris Proofhouse

7

Chatellerault

1810-1879

Mark for Chatellerault

8

Tulle

1810-1879

Mark for Tulle

9

Mutzing

1810-1867

Mark for Mutzing

10

Manufacture de l’Etat

1810-1879

Manufacture de l’Etat

11

St Etienne

1824-1856

Proofhouse mark replace no 2

12

St Etienne

1856-1869

Proofhouse mark, replace no 11.

13

All

1860-

Mark for converted military flintlock guns to percussion

14

St Etienne

1869-

Proofhouse mark, replace no 12.

15

St Etienne

1879-

Guns made in St Etienne

16

All

1879-

For imported guns not made in France

17

All but not for St Etienne

1879-

Mark for guns made in France but not in St Etienne

18

All

1886-1895

Gun proofed in finalized state

19

All

1893-1897

Gun proofed with a re-enforced proof in finalized state.

20

All

1892-1895

Proof of unfinished barrel

 

Marks from 1897 to 1923

No

Paris

St Etienne

Valid

Type of proof

21

30 July 1897-1923

Black powder proof for unfinished barrels

22

30 July 1897-1923

Black powder proof for finished and soldered barrels with a pressure of 14223 psi (pressure adjusted 1923)

23

30 July 1897-1923

Finished and forged barrels with a re-enforced proof with a pressure of 16356 psi (pressure adjusted 1923)

24

30 July 1897-1923

Guns proofed in finished state

25

 

30 July 1897-1923

Guns proofed with a re-enforced proof in finished state. Replaced no 19.

66

30 March 1896-1923

For barrels proof with semi smokeless J and S powder.

27

14 May 1898 - 1923

For barrels proof with semi smokeless J and S powder.

28

1900-1923

For barrels proof with semi smokeless T powder.

29

1901-1923

Double proof on unfinished barrel with a pressure of 17779 psi (pressure adjusted 1923)

30

As 29 but with four crowned crossed palm leafs.

1901-1923

Treble proof on unfinished barrel

31

1901-1928

1946->

Finished but but not joined

Marks from 1923 to present day

Barrels are normally marked with barrel length in mm, weight in grams as well with gauge and chamber length in mm.

1962 new a proof law was accepted according to international standard, where the bore is allowed to enlarge more than .008” or 0,2 mm after proof.

No

Paris

St Etienne

Valid

Type of proof

32

1923->

Temporary proof on internally finished but externally not finished barrels at 16356 psi

33

1923->

Temporary standard proof for barrels designed for multi barrel guns at 14223 psi

34

1923->

Temporary double proof for barrels designed for multi barrel guns at 16356 psi

35

 

1923->1962

Temporary treble proof for barrels designed for multi barrel guns at 18490 psi

36

1923-1924

1946->

Temporary proof for single barrel in finished state

37

1923->

Final black powder proof

38

1923->

Re-enforced final black powder proof at 11379 psi

39

1923->

Standard final smokeless proof 12090 psi

40

1923->

Standard final smokeless re-enforced proof 15646 psi

41

1923->

For guns in finalized state when proofed, mark added to 39 or 40

42



1923->

Mark for barrels imported to France.

43

 

1923->

Indicated normal measurements in chamber, in this case that is for 65mm shell (2 1/2 inch)

44

1962->

Smokeless proof for rifles

45

1923

Voluntary proof of 17779 psi.

46

N.A.

N.A.

1962->

For single barrels, together with 45.

47

R

1962->

Reproof black powder proof.

48

1962->

Reproof smokeless powder proof

49

 

1962->

Re-enforced reproof smokeless powder proof

 

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Last update: 2010-03-17