Odd Proof Mark - need some help

[sourwoodtom]

Guys,

Cleaning out the safe and selling some guns I just don't shoot or guns in which I've lost interest.   Came across this BHP that I purchased years ago.  I have several nice, newer BHPs that I'm certainly not parting with.  Don't know enough about this one to decide.

Numbers match, proof mark on frame, barrel, and slide.  Has intact mag safety.  Hate to sell something by mistake that I'll regret later.  Overall, gun is about 60%, but of course still shoots very well.

It is old, and certainly not pristine, serial number puts it around WWII 43000ish, but no German markings.  Has the normal PV, but also has an R with a star above it.   Not the R with a crown that most of the books list.  I've attached a couple pics.  Maybe one of you has seen this one?

Thanks much,

Tom

  

[26thz]

I'm looking at a gun with the same proof; #46801

[ToddSig]

Dating an early FN with only the serial number can be a challenge. FN marked serial numbers out of sequence for many of their contracts. There are other ways of dating based upon marks and features (or lack thereof). The R with an asterisk over it is an inspectors mark, in this case it belongs to Sylvain Wagemans who used the mark between 1951 and 1965. There should be some additional marks, typically a single number with lines around it which represents the production date for the part. Check the hammer, butt of the grip, underside of the slide.

For example, I have a Browning roll marked Hi Power with a serial number dating it to 1958 (80492) while some of the parts date from 1955, the hammer with 2nd quarter of 1955, and on the firing pin block from the 4th quarter of 1955.

A few more images of the Hi Power would help. Wageman's later marked guns would have an external extractor and would be missing the thumbprint impression on the slide. If yours is an earlier Wageman you would have internal extractor and the thumbprint slide.

Hope this helps.

Todd

Hammer image



Underside of the firing pin block