Proof ammunition, is designed to produce a minimum mean pressure uplift ofbetween 25% and 30% above that of the maximum mean service pressure listed for the calibre, depending on the requirements. The Rules of Proof are a schedule of the Proof Acts, along withCIP Decisionsthey makeupthe working instructions for the British Proof Authority. For tour and museum related enquires please contact museum@gunproof.com. The Rules of Proof require all arms submitted to be in a fit condition. right. Birmingham Proof Marks - Indians For Guns Goodman, John D, The Birmingham Gun Trade, in Timmins, Samuel. Email: Those barrels that passed selection faced a nine-day journey to London by road and canal and the contractor had to bear the cost of transportation as well as the expense of any rejected barrels.4. The action is different than the ones in the catalogs. Because many rifles may have been imported or, prior to sale on the civilian market, have only had military proof marks, then dating from the Birmingham or London Proof House marks needs to be treated with a degree of both caution and common sense. "On rifled barrels for military arms with a bore diameter not larger than .315. Home, Hallowell & Co., Inc. PO Box 1445. How to Order The 1978 Act enabling the United Kingdom to accede to the Permanent International Commission for the Proof of Small Arms (CIP). B at http://www.berettasupport.com/applications/tech_data/schematics_search_2.htm, The best single reference for deciphering proomarks is Wirnsberger, Gerhard, As an adjunct to our C.I.P. Card payments are not accepted. American Shotguns . A pracical guide to what will suit your gun. Ferlach, Austria: The proof house's number, followed by a C.I.P. My Dad Leslie Bracey who lived in the back to backs of Little Shadwell Street in #Birminghams Gun Quarter, carried shotguns to the #Birmingham Proof House before the Second World War when he worked for a #Birmingham gun maker in the Gun Quarter. However, in most cases,we are only able to report on the most likely causes of failure. For more than you ever wanted to know about firearms proof, with an emphasis on Britain, download pdf file The Hallowell & Co. Recommended Links Historical The rules specify the technical requirements for proof and reproof, includingthe marks to be impressed on guns which pass, together with such details as bore and chamber dimensions of shotguns. Any insigh. Proof Marks - Ballistics - Bev Fitchett's Guns Combination Guns, Winchester Birmingham, England: date code letter placement: 1921 - 1941: Letter at top of intersection of crossed swords. Current Proof & Certification Lead Time: 7 days. How does sleeving work and are sleeved guns a good prospect? Beretta dates of manufacture are available here: 2405 PrOOF mark CirCa PrOOF hOuse tYPe OF PrOOF and gun since 1856 Birmingham provisional proof for barrels since 1637 London definitive black powder proof for shotguns,muzzle loader barrels 1811-1892 Liege black powder proof for rifles 1897-1923 Liege black powder proof for rifles He was immediately conveyed to the Hospital, but died a few minutes after his arrival there, leaving a widow and six children, who were dependent upon his industry. Other Handguns Antique 1985 - 1997: Letter at left of intersection of crossed swords. Most double shotguns represented here. At every stage of the process of setting-up, the guns are taken for examination to Bagot Street. Rules of Proof 3 (Birmingham) - Vintage Guns Here's the quote from the 2003 article in the Doublegun Journal, which doesn't give a reason for the gap: Thanks Larry, I have a BSA gun made for the RAF, they only made the gun from 1940 to 1945 and it has 1950's proof marks, so it kind of peeked my curiosity! We reserve the right to undertake security checks on potential visitors and refuse entry without explanation. purposes only. Current Proof & Certification Lead Time: 7 days. The corporation was renamed to "The Guardians of the Birmingham Proof House" by the Gun Barrel Proof Act 1855. This is particularly useful for home loaders, shooting press and possible incident reports. restrictions refer to: http://www.copyright.gov/laws/ - doublegunshop.com will not monitor nor will they be held liable for copyright violations presented on the BBS which is an open and un-moderated public forum. 1998 - Access can be obtained only by prior appointment with the curators of the Birmingham Proof House Museum. Home, Hallowell & Co., Inc. PO Box 1445. In England, the London and Birmingham proof houses were established (in 1637 and 1813, respectively) by Royal Charter to protect the public from the sale of unsafe weapons. We have a selection of memorabilia available to purchase online. Proof may be rendered invalid if the firearm is damaged or modified significantly; at this point it is described as "out of proof" and must be re-proved before it can be sold or transferred. The Hallowell & Co. A gun proof tested between 1925 and 1954 is examined here to illustrate the marks then used. international standards being accepted throughout the world. Illustrated Firearms Dictionary is for informational Can the barrel be dated? birmingham proof house Under Authority of the Gun Barrel Proof Acts, 1868, 1950(a) and 1978 (a) S.I.1996/1576: The Deregulation (Gun Barrel Proving) Order 1996 The Proof House does not offer in house catering facilities, but can providedetails of outside caterers. calibre technical drawings and pressure limits. is an International Standards Organisation which lays down Rules and Regulations for the proof of weapons and their ammunition. CIP, London & Birmingham Proof Houses' Barrel Proof Symbols Equivalency Table For Use with Steel Shot Ammunition CIP/UK STANDARD SUPERIOR STEEL (HIGH PERFORMANCE) *Please note the British Proof Authority will not give guidance on pre-1954 marks and recommends re-proof of such arms. the C.I.P. C.I.P. For specifics on Copyright Law and By the end of January 1915 the tool room was up and running and the works made its first Mauser by August of the same year. At the end of 1915, 158 men and 74 women were employed (50% British). Casting can be used to determine the calibreand compliance of a barrel. It looks like there are London proof marks 1896-1904; and a re-proof in Birmingham after 1954? Laboratories who achieve ISO17025 accreditation havedemonstrated that they are technically competent in all aspects relating to the scope of the accreditation and are committed to quality. Double gun shotguns - Side by Side shotguns, and over under shotguns - Including drillings, double barreled rifles, SxS double rifles, combination guns. Double Rifles Sample photos of their layouts are at the bottom of the page. The next mark is the cartridge the . rectangle as per the chart below. Typical German proof date code: 6/38, for June 1938. Standard and Superior Proof Marks Download. All Rights Reserved. The Proof House (originally The Guardians, Trustee, and Wardens of the Gun Barrel Proof House of the Town of Birmingham) was established in 1813 by an act of Parliament at the requestand expenseof the then prosperous Birmingham gun trade. The BirminghamProof House has many experts and state of the art resources in this field. Member State. Proof Date Codes | The Stalking Directory 4-part serial Illustrated Firearms Dictionary is for informational purposes only. The Birmingham Gun Barrel Proof House is a weapons proving establishment in Banbury Street, Birmingham, UK. Forces, although in the modern era CIP proof is now often requested as part of H.M. Colt My Parker Hale 270 as it was proved in Birmingham has the crossed sword "X" date code on it. Birmingham - since 1812-1904. of dots beneath to indicate inspector. It is awarded a stamped proof mark if it survives without either being destroyed or suffering damage from the proof load. Inspector's number at bottom. Sadly all this has been painstakingly extracted from a range of sources and because the history of the Armourer Sergeants is split between the successors to the AOC, the Royal Logistics Corps and REME not even the latters museum has recorded this chronology. Colt The maximum penalty is 5,000 for each offence. When the Tower was ready to put the Mausers into production the Government handed the works over to the Belgians6 under Colonel Aie Loiselet.7 By the end of 1916, 90% of the 400 employees were Belgians following the move of part of the Calais workshop personnel as well as military armsmakers.7 The Belgians, who had experience of making these rifles, had escaped the German advance.6, From the beginning of February 1816 the Tower was able to produce several thousand rifles per month as well as 150000 spare parts for various weapons as well as machine gun barrels. When in full operation, a staff of between sixty and seventy men were there engaged in viewing the arms manufactured in the town. For corroboration, cross-reference with the It does not correspond with the proof marks on one of my shotguns, looks like the ones on it are London Proof House marks. The Birmingham Proof House can, subject to an initial assessment,provide incident reports ondamaged small arms and/or on the ammunition in use at the time of the incident. This ensures that Member States mutually recogise each others proof marks. Italian proof date code:BA, for 1991. Chart. PROOF MARKS: BRITISH PROOF MARKS - ENGLAND, cont. CIP Standard & Superior Proof Marks - Birmingham Proof House and Laboratory duties,the Proof House can offergauge analysis, enabling manufacturers to ascertain if a gauge or tool meets current industry standards. Mr Sidney Reynolds who has stood for 50 years at a factory bench in 1956. Decisions. SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE ADAPTATION OF SHOTGUN MAGAZINES AND THE DEACTIVATION OF FIREARMS: REVISED 2010 Page 5 of 47 Rev: 12.17/12/10 SCHEDULE 2 . You have there a piece of history. Viewing the barrel, the first mark, on the left, identifies the proof house. B at upper right. The visit costs 200including VAT for each group visit of upto 10 people. The building was added to by Charles Edge in 1860, Bateman and Corser in 1868-70 and again in 1876, and by Jethro Cossins in 1883. 5. 2. 1950 - 1974: Letter at left of intersection of crossed swords. From there it moved to Sparkbrook when Bagot St closed. A booklet from Greener instructing sportsmen on gun cleaning procedures. The Birmingham Proof House was established by Act of Parliament in 1813 to ensure small arm user safety, as far as it is practicable, by the compulsory and statutory proof of small arms. Photography is not permitted on site, unless specific permission is sought and granted by the accompanying guide. Would the Birmingham proof house mark the barrels as reproofed if the original proof was done else where? Chart: Syntax of British proofmarks over time. press and hold the "Ctrl" key on your keyboard, and at the same time, hit the "+" key several times. The corps first depot was in the former and short-lived Colt Revolver factory off Bessborough Place, Millbank, Pimlico, by the River Thames. When Oliver Greener, who was seconded by the War Office to run the factory, arrived at The Tower in December 1914 he found an inch of dust on the floor, the factory having lain idle for many years. The principal UK Proof Actpassed in 1868 (download),was supplemented by further Acts in 1950 and 1978. dates of British proof marks - American Longrifles Payment is required on the day of the visit either in the form of cash or cheque. Inspector's number Itcannot be used for subsequent Lots. Proof ammunition, is designed to produce a minimum mean pressure uplift of between 25% and 30% above that of the maximum mean service pressure listed for the calibre, depending on the requirements. on Britain, All Rights Reserved. All arms are inspected in accordance with therelevant specifications to confirm compliance. Those that passed the test were then sent to London for proof. Ammunition Control includes: If further information is required in regards to the testing of ammunition, please contact the appropriate Proof House representative by our email contact form. Time) Our inventory is constantly changing. Gifts and Memorabilia. code was adopted, in Ariel typeface, [1] The Proof House still exists today, largely unchanged in both purpose and construction, although it offers a wider range of services including ammunition testing and firearm accident investigation. In 1873 the nucleus of the collection was formed when the Guardians of the Birmingham Proof Housepurchased a collection of arms & armour from the former collection of Claudio Calandra, a keen Italian firearms collector, who had spent a great deal of time amassing a vast and exquisite collection of small arms andassociated memorabilia. Inspector's number underneath. When they were made, all British guns had to be subjected to proof testing (they still are) to ensure that they were fit for purpose. TheLibrary of Small Arm & Ammunition Related Source Materialincludesover 1,000 original cartridge drawings. Typical London proof date code: The proof marks you mention if only crossed scepters with a crown above would be those of Thomas Ketland of St Catherine St, Weaman Row Birmingham 1766 to 1810.Later the Birmingham Proof House of 1813 adopted the same proof marks but were stamped BPC between the scepters and also crossed scepters with the letter V this was the view mark before t. It is a Webley & Scott 12-bore with steel barrels. As there was a favourable opportunity of disposing of the Tower works, they were sold. 1998 - D at right. The Birmingham Proof House certifiesdeactivated arms and the magazine restrictionof shotguns to two shotcapacity on behalf of the Home Office. It is a Charles Rosson 12-bore with steel barrels. Please allow up to 10 working days for reply. Ammunition Control & Ammunition Testing by the British Proof Laboratory, Certification of Deactivated Arms & Magazine Restrictions, Chamber Gauge & Chamber Casting Inspection and Analysis, An initial application by the manufacturer to the Proof House, Pre-inspection of the manufacturer's facilities, Full auditing of the manufacturer's facilities in line with accepted Quality Management Systems, Ongoing submission of manufacturer's test data, Continuous monitoring of ammunition from the market place by the Proof House, A formal contract listing the requirements and responsibilities of both parties, Permanent dialogue between the manufacturer and the Proof House. controllers' mark. New Arrivals Custom Knives In 1777, with the increase in demand caused by the American War of Independence, the Ordnance in Birmingham established a warehouse to try to ease the selection process, but this caused the Ordnance viewers to become even more discriminating, which made the process even slower. The Birmingham Gun Barrel Proof House is a weapons proving establishment in Banbury Street, Birmingham, UK. A new View Room was built in 1811.4, a shocking incident occurred at the Proving-house, in Walmer-Lane, Birmingham. for purchase. Such reports can, according to the individual requirements, take considerable time to compile. Current Proof & Certification Lead Time: 7 days. Other The two sources I have for those Birmingham proofmarks say that there's a gap from 1942-49. For more than you ever wanted to know about firearms proof, with an emphasis In 1796 the Board of Ordnance decided that the only way to overcome the situation was to build a proof house at Birmingham.4 The Government purchased land between the Birmingham-Fazeley canal, Walmer Lane (later Newtown Row) and Bagot Street, Birmingham. I understand it was during war time efforts, but guns were still being made, sold and put into service. Neat Stuff, Who We Are The Proof House can provide copies of the Several Acts andRules of Prooffora small fee. The Laboratory is ISO17025 & ISO 9001 accredited. There are penalties for non-compliance with proof laws; a fine of 5,000 may be levied for selling an unproofed or out-of proof firearm, more if a number of firearms are involved in a transaction. Many old guns may have been re-proved once or more, often in a different proof house from the original one. c. cxiii), which made it an offence to sell, offer for sale, transfer, export or pawn an unproofed firearm, with certain exceptions for military organisations. visit shop. Purdey's 1920s aids to illuminated hunting. The several parts of a gun are first examined in detail, and accurately gauged; they are then returned to the gunmaker who proceeds to set them up. There are defined internal bore size enlargement increments allowed for shotgun barrels, these can be found in the relevant Rules of Proof. Other Vz.52 with Birmingham proof mark | Gunboards Forums Gardone, Italy: Month and Year in Roman numerals until 1945. There isa reference collection devoted to small arms which have been subject to incident, either through misuse in the field or have failed during the proofing process due to weakness or poor workmanship. 1992. Neat Stuff, Who We Are American Shotguns D at right. Reproof is the similar testing of a previously proven small arm that has been rendered out of proof becauseone or more of the small arm pressure bearing component(s) havebeenmaterially weakened in substance or strength. Letter at left of intersection of crossed swords. Tourvehicles are tobe parked within theProof House front yard area, between the two, 10 minutes walking distance of the Proof House, Organised Tours of the Birmingham Proof House, Museum and Pattern Rooms, Tour Content, Restrictions, Parking and Cost. Combination Guns, Winchester Sans-serif Number I noticed they stop at 1942-43 and start up at 1950. Last edited: Dec 9, 2012 csl Administrator Site Staff Dec 9, 2012 #4 Stickied E enfieldspares A friend has one and didn't realise what it was until I examined it for him. Address. Birmingham Archives & Collections on Twitter, Birmingham Archives & Collections on Facebook, Birmingham Archives & Collections on Instagram, http://www.clham.org/t-3-fasc-1-manufacture, http://www.britishcarbines.co.uk/GunTrade.pdf. 2 A state-owned proofing establishment was erected on the site, with the main entrance in Bagot Street.4, While the Ordnance proof house was being built, an agreement was made with the gunmakers Galton, Ketland and Walker, Whately, Grice and Blair for their barrels to be proved at their own proof houses by the Ordnance viewers. Livingston, Montana 59047 The majority of marks will be found on the barrel flats, though early guns may have stamps on the tubes, under the forend. Magazine vehicles. Other Handguns Antique Smith & Wesson Magazine Articles Birmingham Gun Barrel Proof House - geograph.org.uk - 2276562.jpg 427 640; 70 KB. Guns After 1925, used by both proof houses for marking all proofed military arms. The Proof Acts lay down that no small arm may be sold, exchanged or exported, exposed or kept for sale or exchangeor pawned, unless and until it has been fully provenand duly marked. Posts: 2653. The offence in dealing in unproved arms is committed by the seller, not by an unwitting purchaser. at bottom. Single Shot Rifles The Birmingham Proof House does not accept responsibility for any damage to such items resulting from the proving process. I get 1972 from the Birmingham date code mark. Visitors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. 1975 - 1984: Letter inside upper left of circle. A Jacobean-style gateway was added in 1883. There are no re proof marks, bo you think these guns went to the RAF without proof marks and then returned to be proofed and sold? 4, It was subsequently extended to a large establishment.2 Between 12 November 1856 and July 1857 the Ordnance Board sought permission to store black powder and bullets at the Birmingham Proof House whilst they constructed a new Proof House in Bagot Street. The PROOF HOUSES of LONDON & BIRMINGHAM - Proof Marks and Notes on the We want to buy your Gun(s) Upon submission to proofaDeclaration Form (download) is required to be completed as part of the Birmingham Proof House Terms and Conditions (download). The British Proof Laboratory is one of the leading ammunition test laboratories within the C.I.P., providing services for commercial and home loaders. Leonard, Colonel Pierre, La Manufacture darmes de ltat (M.A.E.). The tour guide providesa running commentary on each area and items of interest. BBC - Birmingham - History - Birmingham's historic gun trade The C.I.P. A collection of markings of any type, acceptance, proof, property, post-war alteration you name it, found on S&W revolvers of the two world wars that were sold or loaned to Commonwealth countries. The Birmingham Proof House is a unique national treasure. able to offer many additional services,including: CIP AMMUNITION CONTROL & AMMUNITION TESTING, CERTIFICATION OF DEACTIVATED ARMS & MAGAZINE RESTRICTIONS, CHAMBER GAUGE & CHAMBER CASTING INSPECTION AND ANALYSIS. Livingston, Montana 59047 It would have to have been Proof tested before passing to the RAF to comply with the proof regulations. Visitors will need to be able to access the 1st floor of the building on a number of occasions during the visit. C at Proof Date Codes - Hallowell & Co Gallery, Firearms Definitions, Abbreviations & Opinions Roman numerals from 1945 until 1975, then a two-letter code surrounded by a small Worshipful Company of Gunmakers - Wikipedia The plant also produced the new model 1916 bayonet. Memorabilia; Downloads; Contact; Links. NOTES ON THE PROOF OF GUN BARRELS - 1952. Recommended Links Historical A number of other countries have also . A gun barrel proof (testing) house commissioned by the Guardians of the Birmingham Gun Barrel Proof House from John Horton and opened in 1813. Air guns are exempt from the Proof Act. The six departments were as follows: I General services; II Barrel shop (drilling, profiling &c), fore & rear sights, mounting of same & test firing; III Assembly in the white of rifles and other arms; IV Manufacture of lockworks, bolts, firing pins, bayonet assembly; V Reception of parts and accessories made by civilian contractors, toolshop, manufacture of wooden parts; VI bayonet shop.7, After production moved back to Liege in 1819 there was no need for use of The Tower by either the Belgian Government or the British Army Ordnance Board and the site was immediately taken over by Timmins Brothers brass castings.11. Proof and Armorers' Marks - The Book of the Pistol Birmingham Proof House | Military Wiki | Fandom For anyone with an interest in the history and technology of firearms it is a place that simply must be visited (like the Tojhusmuseet in Copenhagen or the Royal Armouries at Leeds). The table below can be used to see if your gun was proofed in London or Birmingham. In addition toproof and reproof of small arms, we areable to offer many additional services,including: Click here to find out more about the Proof House Services, Find out more about our fascinating collection, Download important documents via our webiste. We do not necessarily offer the items described above for sale. The Birmingham Proof House possesses a fine Georgian boardroom which can be hired, during working hours, to hold small conferences and events. Interestingly there are a number of items from the original Count Calahandra collection, on loan, included as part of the Firearms Pattern Rooms collection. Birmingham Gun Barrel Proof house - geograph.org.uk - 2276574.jpg 427 640; 74 KB. Proof House Services | Birmingham Proof House Also if the armis rejected or fails proof then a gunsmith/RFD isbest placed to eitherrepair thesmall arm,advise the customer that it isnot possible to repair or uneconomical to repair. Eibar, Spain: Until 1994, a code amongst the proofmarks. They will then receive a talk and visual presentation relating to the history of the Birmingham Proof House and the evolution of the gun and ammunition trades, focusing on the Birmingham Gun Trade. Tourvehicles are tobe parked within theProof House front yard area, between the twosetsof gates. Dating your rifle - British barrel marking date codes bullet, powder, cases, wadding etc. Every small arm together with all highly stressed component parts must undergo lawful testing in the Proof House of the C.I.P. This 12-bore is proofed under the Rules of Proof in force at the Birmingham Proof House from 1925-1954. Argo, that's an interesting batch of proofmarks. Category:Birmingham Proof House - Wikimedia Commons For all the ghosts of Armourer Sergeants from across the old British Empire, I hope that Ive put that right, here and now. 2 A state-owned proofing establishment was erected on the site, with the main entrance in B. Birmingham proof house date marks - The DoubleGun BBS Larger guns were tested at a shooting range in Bordesley along a railway viaduct; however, the expansion of the city centre resulted in the closure of the shooting range. Then used with "NP" mark for rifles proofed with nitro or semi-smokeless powders. Thisensures that Member Statesmutually recogise each othersproof marks. A Jacobean-style gateway was added in 1883. The Birmingham Proof House by Mike Yardley - Positive Shooting [1] It is a grade II* listed building.[2]. Thanks for the help. Birmingham inspection mark used since 1904. dot, then by a 2-digit number for the year, as: 346.33 for the 346th gun proofed Store Photos The RAF guns were ascribed a letter 'W' in front of the serial number. The BSA guns used for the RAF were bought back by BSA after the war and refurbished and sold on again. Register your details here for invitations to events and special offers from The Vintage Gun Journal, Vintage Guns Ltd 2023. in 1933. Thereafter it shows a decline to a low of 2.4% in 1863. Note, approval only relates to the Lot of ammunition tested. Note that the correct term for a satisfactorily tested firearm is proved, or proven. prior written consent of the Copyright holder. Fourteen countries are C.I.P. There are numerouspublic car parkssitedwithin10 minutes walking distance of the Proof House. As part of theProof House's wider brief for small arms saftey in general, organised tours began in 1997. European Shotguns The tour includes the Museum Pattern Rooms:the firstdevoted to the history and evolution of small arms, with particular reference to former Birmingham manufacturers;the second relates to small arms ammunition and the ammunition trade. Each manufacturer would deliver firearms to be tested, to a proof-house (either London or Birmingham) in an unmarked condition. The building was designed by John Horton and consists of a centre bay, emphasised by a segmental parapet, which contains trophies by William Hollins. Location: UK. "BIRMINGHAM GUN BARREL PROOF HOUSE (1291262)", "Details from listed building database (1291262)", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Birmingham_Proof_House&oldid=1143648284, Proving and certification of firearms and ammunition, quality testing, This page was last edited on 9 March 2023, at 01:29. Sample ammunition for testing is required to be submitted using the appropriate Declaration Form. Both services are carried out using our calibrated Starlite 250 Optical measuring machine. The current EU Deactivation Regulation and the Home Office Specifications for the adaptation of shotgun magazines and the deactivation of firearms can be found on the Home Office website link below. Hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 10 - 6. The Birmingham Proof House . Tampering with, or forging, a proof mark is regarded as even more serious. After 1994, the last two digits of the USA Tel: 406 222-4770 Fax: 406 222-4792 EDK, therefore, refers to the year Where were guns proofed during 1944-1949? Feb 1, 2022 (Edited) I picked up this Vz.52 recently which has a few interesting features. This is in the form of a text-searchable flip-page document that .