Proof marks -- 12-76 overstamped 12-89

[richhemmings]

Hi all,

I've recently bought a Hatsan Escort and one of the first jobs was to give it a good look over, clean, reoil etc. and upon doing so I noticed that it's been reproofed (or at least restamped) during its life. 

From memory the 18.2 is the test pressure and the 12-76 is gauge and chamber length. 

Not sure why the 18.2 wasn't stamped at the factory and I'm assuming the chamber length has been altered from 76 to 89mm, which seems a lot of effort (and expense) on a cheap gun -- but then I'm no expert and perhaps it was simply retested and classified for steel magnum loads by a previous owner.

 

Can anyone shed any light on this or suggest another explanation?

 

Thanks,

Rich

[enfieldspares]

18,2 is likely to be the internal bore diameter in millimetres. The 89 is, yes, 3 1/2" in old money. I think. It used to be that a gun that was reproofed would carry a crown over R mark in Birmingham. Gunmakers Company is LONDON. Guardians is BIRMINGHAM.

 

Edited April 29, 2024 by enfieldspares

[Andy H]

Strange the Birmingham proof-house would stamp/engrave it like that it looks like someone has just put the 89 over the top without striking out the 76 , You could give them a call as they will have records of the proof and they take a very dim view on anyone adding their own proofmark's.

[Sweet11-87]

even if the barrel has been reproffed the guns bolt and gas system isnt designed to deal with that. probably wont explode but the gun wont than you for banging big heavy 3.5s through it

[Windswept]

Any chance the gun had 89 mm chambers from new and was either stamped 76 by mistake and immediately corrected by the proof house or was even sent back when someone realised?

[Sweet11-87]

im almost certain its not 3 1/2 chamber whats the extraction port size. think about it, the amount of work needing to be done to modify a 3" semi auto to run reliably,  chamber reaming, gas system exhaust tweaking, extraction port would need extending and the extractor kicker on the  inside wall of the receiver would need to be extended along with the length of the receiver  itself to allow for the extra travel of the bolt.

[TIGHTCHOKE]

Is it a Hatsan Escort Extreme Max?

 

I think they have a 3 1/2 inch chamber.

[richhemmings]

Thanks for all the replies so far, interesting stuff. 

The gun was listed as "HATSAN 12-BORE (89mm) ESCORT MAGNUM SEMI-AUTO" by Holts in the April sale... https://www.holtsauctioneers.com/asp/fullCatalogue.asp?salelot=S0424+++6665+

I hadn't thought about calling the proof house, I'll track down their number and do that next. 

Thanks again.

[enfieldspares]

The Birmingham Proof House. Hmm. In past times often referred to as a make work scheme for the otherwise unemployable. Good Luck with them. My advice would perhaps be to start with the Hatsan UK importer who should be better able to help advise what the gun was made as when it was made. I hope you get put in a happy place and all ends well.

[JohnfromUK]

17 hours ago, enfieldspares said:

18,2 is likely to be the internal bore diameter in millimetres. The 89 is, yes, 3 1/2" in old money. I think. It used to be that a gun that was reproofed would carry a crown over R mark in Birmingham

/\. This.  Reproof mark would (should) be present if it has been reproofed, but this looks like a correction to a mistake.

Can you not measure the chamber length - at least approximately?  For example, gently slide in a wooden dowel that is a reasonable fit in the chamber until it stops?  I have a 12 bore chamber gauge I made some years ago from a piece of 20 mm (the chamber is nominally around 20.3 mm or 0.8" diameter?) bar that give a very adequate check on chamber lengths., but for a check, any cylindrical tube/dowel that slides in the chamber and stops at the forcing cone will give a good idea.  Even a plastic tube would do if a good fit.

Overstamps to correct mistakes do happen and I have seen a few examples pictured on various forums etc.

[TOPGUN749]

You can check the chamber length with a dowel of .800” or 20mm. I have also used a small steel ruler and watching where it reaches the cone area.