Birmingham proof marks

[Noeyebrows]

What do you guys know about these Birmingham proof marks? How might it date an English gun? Did they have anything to do with the Ketland family? I’ve read some about them, but getting some conflicting info. Were they more common on “civilian” guns? - thanks, Andy

 

[R Ellis]

You should google B,ham proof marks and it will give you the period they used that mark

 

[Rudyard]

What do you guys know about these Birmingham proof marks? How might it date an English gun? Did they have anything to do with the Ketland family? I’ve read some about them, but getting some conflicting info. Were they more common on “civilian” guns? - thanks, AndyView attachment 357929

The Marks are not Birmingham they are the Govt Tower pier mark for Commercial guns not Ordnance they would have the one but additional Crown GR mark . The Brum proof is post 1814 or so when it was set up. What Ketlands input no idea without research .The evidently new marks are deemed ' fake' . and would be prosecuted in UK . Nice looking gun choose what .
Rudyard

 

[dave_person]

Hi,
As Rudyard wrote, they are private Tower proof marks. Gun makers could pay the Tower to have their barrels proofed rather than send them to the London Guild proof house. These marks have often been misidentified as early Birmingham marks or as Ketland proof marks.

dave

 

[Rudyard]

Hi,
As Rudyard wrote, they are private Tower proof marks. Gun makers could pay the Tower to have their barrels proofed rather than send them to the London Guild proof house. These marks have often been misidentified as early Birmingham marks or as Ketland proof marks.

dave

Yes that Rudyard's not as silly as he looks Thanks Dave
.Regards Rudyard

 

[Capt. Jas.]

Agreed with above and they are also a bit oversized.

 

[Rudyard]

Agreed with above and they are also a bit oversized.

There hand cuts the sizes did varie, If any we don't drive them as hard as they did but they had wrought iron, that barrels probably steel and they really' bopped 'the mark might also have had a jig or just did it every working day . I wasn't their But have observed many such as we all do.
Rudyard

 

[Capt. Jas.]

There hand cuts the sizes did varie, If any we don't drive them as hard as they did but they had wrought iron, that barrels probably steel and they really' bopped 'the mark might also have had a jig or just did it every working day . I wasn't their But have observed many such as we all do.
Rudyard

Well last night they appeared to look 3/4" tall each : )
Hadn't had a drop I promise. Of course I'm usually always looking at the forum on my phone, glasses on and I usually expand everything to see it.

 

[PathfinderNC]

“…The evidently new marks are deemed ' fake' . and would be prosecuted in UK “
Rudyard

Wow- The UK would deem such artistically recreated proof marks as “forgeries”?