waterman wrote on Nov 11
th, 2020 at 12:08pm:
Is there a date for the rifle? Maybe part of the proof stamping? And if I understand correctly, the proof is only for the barrel, maybe submitted before rifling?
Good questions!
Firstly, some basic info on BUG proofs:
BUG proofs were introduced with the Proof Law of 1891. It was not until early 1893 that it was fully implemented. Guns made in the interim were marked with the "Crown over V" mark, where
V stands for
Vorrat, i.e. in stock. So BUG indicates that the gun was made post-1892.
Crown over
U = definitive proof (not an intermediate proof) of barrel or action.
Crown over
B = final proof of the finished gun. Only possible when the
U proof has previously been passed for (in this case) system/action body and barrel.
So no
B without
U !
Crown over
G = proof mark for rifled barrels.
So action body gets
U. Barrel gets
U plus
G (proof in rifled state)
And the the finished gun gets a
B on barrel and action.
Hence
BUG on barrel, but only
BU on action.
If you look closely at the accompanying photo you can see that the barrel has BUG and the action has BU (just visible at bottom left).
As to the date, I am slightly puzzle by the stamped figures, and would appreciate comparative info from anyone who has a similar rifle.
First, remember that the Germans and Austrians use a decimal comma. So (see below the BUG proofs) 172
,28 looks like a decimal value. Maybe the weight of the bullet in grains, as 172,28 grams would be ridiculous. And that weight of powder would be a crazy overload that would fill the case AND a couple of inches of barrel!
The following 11
.03 is not a decimal number, but it could be a date, i.e. November 1903.
And 12 40 puzzles me, as I can see no sense in stamping the time to the minute, i.e. 12:40. So it must be something else.
Finally, the monogram in the center
looks somewhat like a JP (i.e. Johann Peterlongo) but I think it is rather a curly H. Maybe the barrel-maker?
Contributions/alternative interpretations welcome!