Interesting proof marks.
- Crown/NP is Birmingham Nitro Proof 1904 and after (London Nitro Proof was a sword/NP)
- Crown/V is London view proof
- 450EX was usual for BP Express loads and pre 1904 would have “usually” had the load for Cordite spelled out as well.

“Smokeless, semi-smokeless, Cordite” was used prior to 1898 (1887 & 1896 proof rules) in some rifles. Proof marks then had to spell out the powder and bullet weight after the “.xxx EX” mark. If this rifle only shows “.450EX” then that is an interesting anolmaly and quite possibly originally BP proof then later re-proved under the Birmingham rules of 1904. May have a reproof mark as well.

My W & C Scott top lever hammer rifle was made in 1898 as an original .500/.450 3 1/4” Nitro express and has London Proof marks as well as the requisite “transition” proof marks to include “Cordite 70 GR Ball 480 GR MAX” as the Tropical load at the time.

Photo hosting is a mess any more, suffice to say the Wal Winfer Single Shot Rifle book series has lots of interesting info as to early pre-1904 Cordite proof.

Another side note to this .500/.450 that has pristeen barrels.....probably much like my W&C Scott.....mean that the rifle could have been caught up in the .450 ammo ban/prohibition in India & Sudan that was first imposed about November 1899 and fully implemented by 1907, thus the rifle was likely hardly ever fired.......no ammo.
- Mike