Barrel markings

[smylee grouch]

When did the British start marking their rifles with cal./bore size and recommended or max powder charges, such as 10 bore-5 dram or such if they ever did this.

[rick/pa]

Bore size was indicated under the proof law of 1875.  Proof rules of 1896 were concerned with Nitro or semi smokeless proof and had markings indicating load in grains and shot in ounces.  This information came from the Standard Directory of Proof Marks, pages 102-104, by Gerhard Wirnsberger.  There is much more info on proof  but I gave you the condensed version for Great Britain.

[smylee grouch]

OK thanks rick. I,m wondering if any of the gunsmiths did so before those proof laws and rules.

[T*O*F]

It is possible that earlier guns were sent in to be reproved for use with nitro powder leading one to believe that it was done earlier.
This gun was obviously made before 1896.

William Richards,  Liverpool and Preston
The firm was founded in 1801 by Wm. Richards in London.  Wm. Richards died in 1820 and was succeeded by his son William who came to Liverpool via Birmingham in 1842 and died in 1864.  His son Henry carried on the business at various addresses in Old Hall Street, and finally at No. 27.  Henry died in 1895.

[fahnenschmied]

Birmingham made commercial pattern P53 Enfield muskets commonly have the bore size , either 24 or 25, stamped on the breech.  Early to mid 1860s.  Earliest I've noticed.

[FlintFan]

1855. 

The practice of adding the additional example of "10 bore 5 dram" which is sometimes seen engraved on lock plates, butt plates, on the gun case label, etc. was done at the whim of the gun maker as an aid to the shooter.

More modern proof marks, starting around 1900, will have an added maximum shot charge and even later ones have pressure ratings.

[Dphariss]

The service load information was what the rifle/gun was regulated for. In double rifles this was important since changing anything in the load would effect the barrels printing to the same point sometimes by a considerable amount.
Proofs were determined by law by the class of the firearm and the bore size.
John Taylor in "Pondoro" tells of using a single barrel 10 bore smooth that was marked for 6 drams of powder, IIRC. I suspect it was what we would call a smooth rifle.
After a couple of test shots from a distance this is what he used to shoot some Rhino and 13 "good bulls", African elephant using hardened lead balls. This I believe was in the 1930s.

Dan