London/Belgium?/Birmingham proof marks?

[Rick Riddell 230]

It's on a James Lang sidelock. Not sure exactly what is going on here?

[Tim Wilkes 43]

Mmmmm. Don't like the look of that at all!

That appears to have been badly scribed in after the event. Why? Who knows, but it looks wrong to me.

Tim

[Rick Riddell 230]

The woodcock hill (Thomasbland.net)would be the importer, why they did it that was is beyond me! What else troubles you about the proofs? I’m curious about the Belgian proofs would the tubes have been outsourced? Possible donor tubes ( where are the rest of the proof marks, if it was a donor)?

[Rick Riddell 230]

Black powder or nitro?

[John 39]

The serial number dates this gun to 1888-1889, and the proof marks are clearly Birmingham. There were substantial imports of Liege guns at around this time but I don't think this is one of them. I can read Woodcock Hill but the next word looks like Bendon. What do you think? This had been stamped in very poorly with a punch and a hammer, no doubt by the first purchaser or a subsequent buyer, possibly when drunk. It may be his address rather than his name which is strange. Is there a silver or gold oval with any inscription?

[Rick Riddell 230]

It’s in transport right now, Woodcock Hill is part of the new Thomas Bland & sons shop out of Benton Pennsylvania, as to why they used an auto hand stencil is beyond me, glad it’s on the short rib and not on the top! I’ll probably get that cleaned up. So I have found more info on this piece, made in 1888 and sold to James Lang in the white from Charles Osborne on June 29th 1888. It has the first set of London proofs, around 1977 it was redone and sourced Belgian tubes were used for sleeves and stock remade then proofed in Birmingham (Birmingham date marks for 77). That last part is consensus among various smiths, and collectors, they also mentioned French tubes were also used from Varney Carron at that time. It’s not a great gun but a great chance to own a gun from James Purdey’s grandson! Now the search for a case label! I saw the one on the website but can’t make anything out, maybe I’ll grab a Lang & sons label! More pics of the gun.