Loaded Flintlock - problem or not?

[Fernando K]

Hello everyone:

The punch ELG with a crown, began to use the late 1800s Any letter of the alphabet, with a crown was the punch of Inspector Exactly, I change the letter with an asterisk, for the confusion of the V crowned with V crowned the Bank of English tests. I have official papers Testbed Liege, but I have to look for them.

Affectionately. Fernando K

(Sorry for the translator)

[CutlassCollector]

Hi Mark,

Here is a picture of the ELG mark it is located on the side of the barrel underneath the wood. There are no other marks except within the lock as shown but I guess these are inspector marks or indicate the maker of the lock.
From yours and Fernando's comments I think that dates the pistol sometime between 1810 and 1830. No crown and small letters. Is yours a similar mark?

I have read that these were sold to many European countries and it's interesting that yours also has a British proof as Fernando K confirms.
CC

[fernando]

Originally Posted by CutlassCollector

...I have read that these were sold to many European countries and it's interesting that yours also has a British proof as Fernando K confirms...

Apparently you misunderstood Fernando K, maybe due to translation issues .
What he means to say and i confirm is that, a letter under a crown was the Liege inspection mark, the letter being the initial of the assigned inspector.
Later they changed the crown to an asterik, to avoid the punction being confused with the London Viewed mark, namely in cases where the initial was that of inspector Mr. V something.

I would say that, in the case of Belgium guns being exported to London under official contracts, those would eventualy be subject to local (re) proof tests. In such case what you would have was the Birmingham or London (crest) proof marks and not the Viewed inspection punction ... or something like that .

Maybe this chart will put some light to it:

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

[CutlassCollector]

Thanks Fernando for the correction and the excellent link.
Apologies, Fernando K, for mis-reading your post.

CC