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So looking at a couple of new rifles on a dealers shelf, I noticed a very subtle change in the position of proof marks on the barrel. Right near the muzzle on a barrel not screw cut!!!

Spiteful!

Sim G wrote:So looking at a couple of new rifles on a dealers shelf, I noticed a very subtle change in the position of proof marks on the barrel. Right near the muzzle on a barrel not screw cut!!!

Spiteful!

yup and if you look at the screwcut barrels they are stamped right next to the thread, its called protecting your income stream

They have clearly decided that there’s a lot of barrel shortening going on and they want those rifles re-proofed.

Are you supposed to re-proof if you alter the barrel by screwcutting or shortening?

What are the rules around this subject?

Interesting thread!

safetyfirst wrote:They have clearly decided that there’s a lot of barrel shortening going on and they want those rifles re-proofed.

Are you supposed to re-proof if you alter the barrel by screwcutting or shortening?

What are the rules around this subject?

Interesting thread!

the proof house say you must reproof if you screwcut the barrel, they have been proved wrong in court (see Jackson rifles case) however they persist in their view, of course they would wouldn't they ? strangely the most litigious country in the world has no proof requirements, as indeed have most other countries that don't have a historically based monopoly holder with the ear of government.

It seems silly to stamp a mark on part of the barrel that is not only the thinnest and most easily damaged, but also critical for accuracy.

Born Again wrote:It seems silly to stamp a mark on part of the barrel that is not only the thinnest and most easily damaged, but also critical for accuracy.

Some would argue that the method of proof is also silly.

They been stamping the muzzle ends for some time now .

If its an older rifle with no proof mark at the muzzle , it can be threaded or even shortened without being reproofed .

But if you remove the proof mark by threading or shortening you have to get it reproofed simply because you have removed a proofmark , and thats naughty !

Clever fuggers arnt they .

It also removes the history of the barrel.

Even if it was considered necessary to reproof when shortening a barrel, it would only apply if you were to sell the rifle.

Thing is, there’s a lot of ‘smiths out there who after shortening/screw cutting won’t “transfer” the rifle back to you until re-proofed should a mark be removed. My last rifle I had cut was the case and the dealer where I saw these said exactly the same.

Despite viable counter-argument, they’re not up for not going full belt and braces with proof...