thanks very much to mickey, 4seventy and newguy for your help.

i just learned of nitroexpress.com and its forums two days ago from a reply that i got to a similar post at a gunshop.com forum. a member at gunshop suggested i joiun nitroexpress and post my question here, more members focused on doubles.

meanwhile, overnight i just got a couple of replies at gunroom.com. a gent from st petersburg russia said that Bemesu is a Latvian name and that Latvian rifles suring the 1920's usually had german proof marks......

and a nice chap in idaho said he has a friend with a nearly identical rifle, also marked Bemesu. he added that Bemesu is the maker's name -- although why he didn't put his name on thge barrels, nobody knows.....this chap offered to put me in touch with his friend who has the Bemesu and who also has some info on the maker.

if i am fortunate enough to get that info, i'll post it here for you gents.

as for pictures, i don't have a clue how to take digital photos then upload them. but i'll try to get my pal who is an expert to teach me. then maybe i can figure out how to post pix here......maybe......

thanks again for your input, gentlemen, and happy thanksgiving.

lapsub