Gun Digest

[yamoon]

Hello
Several years ago I purchased a collection of Gun Digest 1944 thru 1974 missing 50,51,53,54. There are many interesting articles including some like "9.3x72r reloading article. The reason I got them out after many years gathering dust was that I remembered they had a long running series by A Baron Engelhardt on "European Proof Marks". I was hoping to find more information on the proof marks on a 22lr rifle I recently acquired. I am having a hard time dating the rifle. The information in the "Standard Dictionary of Proof Marks" by Gehard Wirnsberger is confusing. I thought this information from the Gun Digest articles might be more understandable to me, but the information in both publications are nearly identical. The photo is from the 1960 Gun Digest.
For what it's worth.
Mike

[mike ford]

Mike,
I find the information in the 1975 edition more understandable. The tables only show bore diameters down to 172,28 however so 22 is not included. Axel has provided additional charts at various places that go all the way down to 1193 ( 4.00 mm). I think you can find them here in the GGCA Forums somewhere. The 75 edition of Gun Digest can be sometimes found in gun shows and other likely source.
Mike

[yamoon]

Hello
Would it be accurate to assume if a rifle has the crown over B, U, G it was manfactured before 1939? The rifle also has the original style eagle of 1891 & crown over N & nitro in script. It is an internal hammer martini that has been converted to 22 rim fire. The conversion is first rate, but no crown over R is present. There are 2 crown over U next to each other on the action. I saw pictures of this rifle over a year ago, but the owner decided to keep it. I ask again a few weeks ago & we agreed on a price, I am very happy to have it. The rifle weighs 15 pounds, so no shooting until my cataract surgery heals a few weeks.
Mike

[Axel E]

Mike, here is (again) the 1895 gauge number supplement, covering the small bores from 4 mm = .157" to 7.50 mm = .295". It's the same copy Jon Speed published in his "Mauser Archive" book.

Yamoon, the proofmarks you describe, visible on the outside, are secondary only. The important marks, including the proof date, are under the barrel. So you have to take the foreend off to see them. As the conversion to .22 lr was most likely done post-1910, the bore (not groove or bullet!) diameter ought to be marked in mm instead of gauge number. The word Nitro in script shows the rifle was proofed by the Zella – Mehlis proofhouse. Z-M marked the proof date, month/year, and a ledger number from at least 1905 on. If there are no such proofmarks under the barrel, the conversion to .22 lr wass done outside Europe, in the USA post-war.

[yamoon]

Thanks Axel & Mike
The. Proof marks under the forend are crown over B, U, G and 5.4m/m ( could be 5.7). No proof charge information. The alteration is so skillfully done I assumed it was done by the name on the barrel, Ernst Peter Wiesbaden.
Thanks again
Mike

[yamoon]

Some photos

I admire the slim trim drillings, but this target rifle really appeals to me. I love mechanical things & rifles that are different.
Mike

[yamoon]

The small lever visible in photo one is a extention of the setting trigger, there is a name stamped on the tang sight is “Heister”

[Packrattusnongratus]

Thanks for the views of a sweet rifle. The conversion would make it a welcome addition to any safe...Packy