Don't want to intrude, but this is a subject I need help with. Perhaps "400 Nitro" has the answer as he seems to know about this stuff. I have a 500-450 I've assumed was a BPE, but not sure. Each barrel is marked "B. Blindee" and "11.1". Each barrel flat has the lion over P.V., a letter "R", an "S"under a star, and a crown atop an oval with "E", "LG", and a star inside. There's also a circle with what may be two men with shields inside. On the left barrel are the letters "L. CAFFORT. SAIGON" in gold. The barrel grooves measure .451", the twist is 1 in 14", and the rifle weighs 8 1/2 lbs. It is a SLE with small diameter bushed firing pins. I presumed the 11.1 was the proof in metric tons, which makes it a BPE, but the twist and other features point to a nitro gun.

What do you think?

Otto