Strange Kriegoff mark?

[jillandsam303]

My new Sempert and Krieghoff Trumpf has a weird mark that almost looks like it was filled with gold at one time. Any ideas?2015-04-02 17.08.21.jpg2015-04-02 17.08.49.jpg

[Axel E]

Seen such yellow filling of such marks several times before, easily explained: The eagle is the mark for preliminary or first proof. This was applied to the rough bored, unchambered and not yet joined barrels as a test for material flaws. As the proofhouse did the preliminary proof on a larger batch of barrels at once, with maybe barrels by more than one barrelmaker, Krieghoff applied the HK mark of their barrelmaking shop before. This ensured they would get back their own barrels after first proof. Drilling barrel assemblies were joined at the breech end by brazing, using brass or, later,copper + silver hard solder. When the three barrels were brazed together, sometimes some solder overflowed, covering part of the breech ends. This solder was easily cleaned off the smooth surfaces, but near impossible to get out of stamps and scratches. So it was simply left in these small depressions, as it did not impair any function and was invisible on the outside of the gun.

[mike ford]

I agree with Axel's assessment and note that a couple gunsmith friends, over the years, have reported flowing silver solder into their name stamp on the rifles they built, but on purpose. When polished and after bluing, this shows up as a silver inlaid makers name.
Mike