Dating Belgian Folding 410

[Keith RW]

Evening Gents

in the process of reviving a couple of Belgian folding 410's and would like to get a rough idea of date of manufacture or at least their ages,

is this possible with the proof marks that are present

thanks for any assistance

[London Best]

I think you will find that the proof marks are Belgian proof marks for Black Powder only. Nitro proof would include a stamp: P.V.

[Centrepin]

One of mine has a serial number the other is on my licence as, "no visible number" it does have a 101 where yours has 105 though. Apparently that's not the serial number. 

Age wise sorry I can't help other than no visible number, between 1900 and 1968. Serial number after 1968.

[enfieldspares]

https://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=232252

[Windswept]

Is this page any help? http://www.shotguns.se/html/belgium.html

[Andy H]

Between 1923 and 1952 stamped by the inspector Couchant Louis.

[eddoakley]

I once dated a folding Belgian but she was taller than 4'10"

 

Edd

[Keith RW]

44 minutes ago, Andy H said:

Between 1923 and 1952 stamped by the inspector Couchant Louis.

Cheers Andy,  that makes sense from the inspector mark "M"  and gun being somewhat older than other inspectors with "M" dates from 1959 -1990

any idea on the other inspectors mark with two letters and star above stamp that may help narrow it down further, cant figure letters out though

 

regards, Keith

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Centrepin]

11 hours ago, enfieldspares said:

https://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=232252

 

11 hours ago, Windswept said:

Is this page any help? http://www.shotguns.se/html/belgium.html

Thank you, I'll try and date mine later.

[ditchman]

are you going to clean them up and recut the chequering.........like to see the end results 

[Andy H]

Somewhere on the barrel there should be a single letter in italics or greek which should be the date code.

[Keith RW]

12 hours ago, ditchman said:

are you going to clean them up and recut the chequering.........like to see the end results 

Have cleaned them up and both in pretty good condition,  one marked 410 needs a stock as it came without one, this one here looks usable but not sure would be OK to make use of with subsonic 2" 410 carts as barrel is stamped up 12mm..........more research required

[Keith RW]

On 26/05/2021 at 20:58, Andy H said:

Between 1923 and 1952 stamped by the inspector Couchant Louis.

Just found some info saying that the diamond marks such as this       ceased being used in 1924

[London Best]

The 12mm is the European name for .410. It refers to the outside diameter of the cartridge.

Those type of folding .410 guns were imported by the shed load from around 1900 and sold very cheaply for, I believe, less than £2 each retail. When I was a lad every junk shop had a selection, still for around £2, and every kid had one.

Edited May 27, 2021 by London Best