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Show and tell time, Gentlemen. I show, and you tell this time!:

Anyone want to take stab at these? I got a few figured out already, I think.

is the Circled "C" the date code? If so that would be 1924 from what I could find. Since it's marked 16-70 I'm not sure that is correct, since 65mm chambers seemed to be much more common prior to 1930, correct? Perhaps it was re-chambered later?

Thoughts, opinions???

16'er

Member Joined: 08 Jul 2013 Posts: 325

The circled C is not the date code, the round character above the smokeless proof (PV) is. I find date codes difficult to read, but you can often narrow it down by looking at the inspector's mark. The */S was used by two controllers, who worked from 1952 - 74, and 1968 - 80. Looking for date codes between 1952 -1980 I'm guessing yours is a Sigma from 1959.

http://damascus-barrels.com/Belgian_All_Proofmarks.html

Joined: 15 Jun 2010 Posts: 1358 Location: Twin Cities, MN

Is it an over/under?

Barrels are marked:

"CANNON DEMI BLOC FLUID STEEL"

*Last edited by skeettx on Thu Jan 07, 2016 12:24 pm; edited 1 time in total*

This is normally how it is done

Side by side

Proofed in 1927

Over/Under

Proofed in 1945

http://www.shotguns.se/html/belgium.html

Looks like your gun is an Over/Under or single shot or ???
and the O should mean 1936, perhaps

And the gun is proofed for 70 mm ammo

And your gun does not show re-proofing so the 70mm should be original

Mike

p.s. look here for the stylized date markings

http://damascus-barrels.com/Belgian_All_Proofmarks.html

Member Joined: 09 Jan 2013 Posts: 2170 Location: Florida

Looks like your gun is an Over/Under or single shot or ???
and the O should mean 1936, perhaps

or perhaps 1959 with S inspectors mark and 70mm chamber length .

Ok, Here's a few wider pics:

" SUPER - SAIVE LIEGE"

So this Liege gun look like a side plated boxlock. It is missing what I think are a pair of lock set screws to the front of the receiver. The rear extension of wood on the lower fore arm is missing on each side. Sad

Weighs 6.5lbs and points very nicely. Action is very tight.

Looking at fit and quality of the engraving, I was much under the impression this was a pre-war gun. Just had that "look" I was a bit surprised to see the 16-70 marking. I was sure this was going to be a 65mm chambered gun.

The marks on the outside of the breech have a matching set on the other side of the gun. I'm thinking that there may have been some kind of sight or scope mount that was there at some point. ???

Any way it's a neat old/odd gun. Not sure what to do with it. But for what I paid, I'm happy. Another one to add to the project list...

Joined: 15 Jun 2010 Posts: 1358 Location: Twin Cities, MN

We need more pikters.

Guest

Joined: 26 Apr 2010 Posts: 3178 Location: NCWa

I know how that "looks" goes. A few years ago I bought a gun on-line advertised as a pre-war Merkel. I suppose the sellers basis for that conclusion was that it said it was "Made in Germany", not West German, East Germany, Democratic German republic, etc. When I received the gun I noted that the stampings indicated it was made in July 1952. But whatever, it's still a great gun.

Member Joined: 08 Jul 2013 Posts: 325

It comes down to the date code. They often have only a vague similarity to the pictures on the websites. But this code looks like a purposely deformed "O", and that, along with the controller's and chamber markings confirms for me that this is a 1950's gun.

Thanks for all the help.

Will have a local machinist friend look at replacing the set screws. Then maybe some test patterns to follow.