Pre-1898

Left barrel (top) 1. 16.2 (mm) = .638" (16g full choke) 2. EL in cursive letters: provisional proof used after 1852. 3. Crown over R and Crown over W. 4. Crown over U. 5. ? 16 in circle. 6. NON POUR BALLE: choked unrifled bores used 1878 to 1897. Right barrel (bottom) 1. 17.0 (mm) = .669 22cm from the breech and the muzzle (16g) 2. Perron - Inspection mark after 1811 3. Spangled ELG in an oval - definitive proof post 1818. Post 1893 mark is usually crowned. 4. Crown over R and Crown over S 5. Crown over U and ? 16 in circle. Crown over R, W, S, and U stamps likely represent the bench test controller's (inspector's) personal marks used 1853-1877. After 1877, the inspector's mark was usually a star over a capital letter. NOTE: the post-1898 stylized Lion over PV (poudre vive unique) 'voluntary' smokeless proof is not present.