Grandpa’s shotgun passed down.

[HoLeChit]

Deciphering Belgian Proof Marks

A reader has asked me to say something about Belgian proof marks. I've owned two Belgian side by sides and two Browning Superposed, so I gu...

gerardcox.blogspot.com

gives you a little insight into Belgian guns. might help with others as you figure out how the marks "read".

 

[Ahall]

Belgin proofs on the barrel and water table.
The marks are provisional proofs, bore diameters in mm,
inspectors mark,
breaching proof
black powder proof (post 1893)
NO NITRO PROOF.

7953 on the barrel and 53 on the receiver are serial numbers pr partial serial numbers.
11 also appears on the receiver and barrel lump so they were probably fitted and marked to keep them mated through the manufacturing process prior to serializing. You will probably find 11 or 53 on the forearm and other major parts.


Design - twin trigger, back action locks, shoe lump barrel, and single extractor. No complicated fitting, or frills. This is a classic hardware store double barrel made in Belgum. At that point in time Belgum was the place to go for inexpensive guns and they made tons of them. The names stamped on the barrels and locks are usually the outfit that imported them or retailed them, not the maker.


The condition is rather average for workhorse shotguns of that era. I have certainly seen a lot worse. You still have the forearm. Your stock is in one piece and appears to be original, not carved with a pocket-knife from a 2 x 6. It was not given to the kids to use as a toy after it became too worn to shoot safely (many were)


Shooting - not advised.
These old Belgin shotguns were made for the economy end of the market, were used hard and are usually worn beyond what is considered safe to shoot. The quality of the gun does not justify expensive repairs or restoration.

Even if the lock up is tight, the barrels are proofed for black powder shells, so it's not intended for the pressures of modern shells.

The flux used to braze and solder the barrels to the lump and ribs in that era was acidic. There was no simple way to clean the excess from the gap between the upper and lower rib, and there is no way to inspect the condition of the exterior of the barrels between the ribs. It might be fine, and it might have 100 years of corrosion pits pushing it over the edge. So there is no economical way to properly inspect the condition of the barrels.

Another issue is that many of these old doubles had a different chamber geometry than modern chambers. It's not uncommon to find a chamber that's about 1/8 inch shorter than a modern chamber or with a steeper forcing cone. They were intended for full brass hulls or paper hulls with an over the shot card. Our modern crimped shells are longer when fired than the older designs. A modern shell will often fit in the chamber, but if you touch one off in an old chamber, the crimp opens into the forcing cone, and cant open fully. This drives the chamber pressures up because the shot column and wad are constricted by the opened hull as they pass into the bore.


It is what it is - a well used and treasured tool from a bygone era. Don't treat it like a toy or novelty.

Hang it on the wall, good hammer out and make up some stories for the grandkids.

 

[DRC458]

Yep, if it were mine, it would go on the wall to be handed down to the next generation. Congrats! I think it's beautiful!