British Proof Marks? - Interesting Remington 521T Find

[Atticus Thraxx]

You have NO idea how bummed I was.

Attachment 109536

Made me mad and it's not even mine. You're right these are neat, undervalued rifles and there's enough variety in the model line to keep collecting interesting. Like I said I'll keep an eye out. I come across stuff now and then.

[m1903rifle]

At least you got all the parts. I would fix it myself rather than trust a "fix" by the auction house.

[usabaker]

At least you got all the parts. I would fix it myself rather than trust a "fix" by the auction house.

After the auction house got the quote from the Gunsmith I was given that amount to handle the repair. Since they decided to go that route I will be handling the repair myself.

[Mk VII]

Why would they proof a foreign-made commercial rifle, is this a government requirement for imported arms? Looking around, it seems that at least the Crown with the letters BNP stamped below it are on some military arms.

The absence of a central proof authority in the USA means all US arms are deemed to be unproved and must undergo proof when they are offered for sale, unless they have been proved at some foreign proof house whose marks are given reciprocal recognition.



I have come across a document in the Public Records Office noting the arrival in Feb 1941 of 4000 Remington 341 and 341P .22's for issue to the Home Guard.

[usabaker]

The absence of a central proof authority in the USA means all US arms are deemed to be unproved and must undergo proof when they are offered for sale, unless they have been proved at some foreign proof house whose marks are given reciprocal recognition.

I find this fascinating, that every firearm coming into the UK from the US would need to be Proofed before sale. Reminds me of the California Law that "handgun model has passed firing, safety, and drop tests and is certified for sale in California by the Department of Justice. " This included UK handguns that have been tested and proofed LOL

California must have got the idea from the British Government; what better way to cloak gun control as a 'Saftey Issue' and gain revenue at the same time.

[Mk VII]

My 686 was proved at Liege, and that was good enough, S & W proved all their European exports in Belgium for onward distribution at that time. Don't know if they still do so.

[bombdoc]

The origins of gun barrel proof in UK goes back to 1637 with the formation of the London Company of Gunmakers. It represents one of the oldest continuous consumer protection schemes in UK history. Cynically, it also served as a means of controlling entry into the gun trade and is an early example of protectionism. It has never been a government run scheme, although it has been enacted through a series of Acts over the years.

Simply put, it is illegal to offer a firearm for sale in UK that is not "of Proof". This means that the firearm must have been tested, passed and marked as proved by a recognised proving authority, and that nothing has been done to the firearm in the meantime to take it out of proof. There is nothing to stop you owning and using an unproved firearm (..although you may be invalidating some types of insurance.) but you cannot offer it for sale as a firearm. There are two civil proof houses in UK in London and Birmingham. The military also had a proofing and marking scheme, but now tend to use the civil proof houses.

The proofing regime involves simply testing and marking the item. There is no government recording of the process. UK registration of firearms is a Home Office/Police matter and is done in such a way as to be of limited value to all concerned!

There was a move some years ago for CIP the international proofing organisation (started in Belgium) to require periodic testing of firearms. This has been resisted, as there is very little evidence that it would give any advantage in firearm safety, and the main benefit would be to the income stream of the various proof houses. Repeated proof testing is more likely to cause damage than prevent it!

[Mk VII]

Yes, they wanted it reproved every time it changed hands.

[painter777]

and the bakelite buttplate shattered.

By any chance will a Rem 513T buttplate fit ?
Will a replacement Buttplate for your 521T be hard to find?
How much do they cost ?

Sent you a PM Bill,

Charlie-Painter777

[usabaker]

By any chance will a Rem 513T buttplate fit ?
Will a replacement Buttplate for your 521T be hard to find?

The 513T Buttplate is steel and the 521T Bakelite. You can find them but the used ones rarely fit and the reproduction don't have the same look being made of plastic or poured epoxy. Luckily I have all the pieces so I will be able to fit the old one back together with a little patience, color matching with the epoxy, and recutting of the ridges with my checkering tools and the breaks won't be noticeable.