| 400NitroExpress |
| (.400 member) |
| 10/11/09 10:58 AM |
Re: Lyon & Lyon of Calcutta DR's
|
Quote:
.400NitroExpress.
I will be looking for either "Nitro Proved" if proved before 1904 or Crown over NP ( Birmingham post 1904 )
No. "Nitro Proved" was used only on small bores up to .315". There will be no Nitro Proof mark at all if it dates prior to 1904.
Quote:
I would not expect to see sword over NP ( London post 1904 ).
Correct, that's the London Nitro Proof mark. I'm expecting Birmingham proof, BUT, it could turn out to be London, which is meaningless. By the time this gun was built, DR trade makers in Birmingham did use London for proof on regular basis. Webley virtually always did. In my observation, these were usually proved in Brum though.
Quote:
I will look for the crossed swords with numbers, what does this signify ?
Birmingham's date code. Brum used one fifty years before London did. If it turns out to be proved in London, it won't have one.
Quote:
I will also take pictures of the other marks ie "450EX" "480grs" "70grs Cordite MAX"
Crown / BV (Viewing mark) Crown / BNP ( Nitro Proof )
Serial # 438XX Lyon # 9XX.
For Birmingham: "450EX"; "Cordite 70 - 480MAX"; Crown over "BP"; Crown over "BV"; Crown over "NP". Maybe chamber length - "3.25""; maybe the date code.
For London: Exactly like this (scroll 1/3 down):
http://forums.nitroexpress.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=54700&an=0&page=5#Post54700
Quote:
I will also be inspecting the bores for pitting, frosting and general wear.
I will be bringing some dummy 450NE ammo to check the chambers.
On/off face; oil soaked, cracked, chipped wood; originality and dimensions of wood; improperly refinished metal; over stressed rifling; obvious repairs (obvious = poorly done); bore and chamber dimensions (slug bores, cast chambers), etc.
With a double rifle like this, I strongly recommend making any offer contingent on professional inspection by a true gunmaker (a double rifle specialist) AND establishing the shooting qualities of the gun (you gotta shoot it). I never skip the gunmaker's inspection step.