Thanks in advance! (28” smooth bore ball gun)

Latest maybe 1954?

Thanks much. Looks like between 1925 and 1954 perhaps. Thanks again.

That’s what it looks like to me. It does have earlier marks as well, but lacks the little square from after.

Do you know if it’s been to Belgium or Germany? The crown over R looks like those repair marks.

I don’t know the history. There is a Crown over R Birmingham proof mark for black powder rifles used until 1925. This is a smooth bore ball gun so they may have considered it a “rifle” or proofed it as such.

The British proof law in effect between 1925 and 1954 (Birmingham: crowns-over-BV, BP, and NP) did include a crown-over-R for

"Re-proof mark. Seen on black powder rifles which the owner had proofed with nitro powders. Such guns must also carry the "NP" mark. Also seen on repaired guns which require re-proof."

From Wirnsberger's "Standard directory of proof marks", p108, with an additional comment on p113 further indicating it wasn't just for rifles.

The original proofs, including the 8-over-C in a diamond, were used from 1887 until 1904.

Holy heck Kynoch, very teasing of you, showing only the proof marks of a 8 bore Double !

Could you please post some more photos & some of the whole Rifle/Gun ?

Thanks everyone for the feedback. Here you go Sarg. The gun has 28” barrels with nice bores. It’s lighter than I would like for an 8 bore at 13 lbs but I’m hoping that it’s regulated for the lighter load. It does balance well. The front site is ramped with a white bead but no rear sight per se. When you mount the gun however, the grooved rib/action serves as a reference point - almost like a semi buckhorn sight. I tried to show this in one of the pics. It should be an adequate sight arrangement for the range of a smoothbore gun. The gun is marked “S.W. Silver” (of Silver’s pad fame). Not sure if they actually built the gun or it was built for them and marketed by them. It’s my first 8 bore. It arrived this week, and I’m quite happy to have it.

Thank you Kynoch, looks like great fun & yes that is light, my 12 Bore rifle is near 15lbs !

Looks like a early gun & maybe a conversion of some type, maybe why it was reproofed ?

Thanks again !

Thanks Sarg. It’s certainly on the lighter side at 13 lbs. I’ve seen others in that range though. It’s definitely on the other end of the spectrum when I compare it to my 10.5 lb two dram 12b (1.875” case).

As I remember the case length was added as per Rules of 1924. Definitely post '24.