[Trueno]

As some of you know, been tryin' to figure out the origin of a barrel I have. Well, took it to the gunshop with me to show a friend and his buddy spotted the mark. Me, I had never noticed it, though it's been there right in front of my eyes all along.

Check out the attached pic and see whatcha think.

"a crown" over the letters "BNP"


eta 1: Hmm, googled and found it's probably the "Birmingham House" proof mark. What in hades is a British proof mark doin' on a barrel made for a Russian weapon?



more pics of the barrel can be seen here:
http://www.theakforum.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=59076



thanks,

t

 

[rayman1]

I think too little information has been provided (model/type/year of weapon, etc.) to make an accurate statement. But from the single photo provided, it appears to be the British "Birmingham Nitro Proof" stamp.

Not 100% sure of the weapon that barrel belongs to but I'd say if it's a recent Russian weapon with its marketting focus being its a "all Russian," perhaps a little secret has been revealed about their business practices. Guess that Russian company was not above having to quietly contract-out to an overseas company for parts to make those commercial sales. Makes you wonder what else they might be passing-off as "original Russian factory" or "Russian-made." :lol:

But just an observation and $.02 from the info at hand.

 

[Trueno]

Actually, it's that barrel I've been tryin' to ID for quite some time now. Bought it off Gunbroker as a 26" fluted 308 barrel.

I got it with intentions of usin' it in a standard Saiga 308. Ya run across any other info I'd sure appreciate hearin' it.


t

 

[rayman1]

So it was just a loose barrel that was fitted to a rifle as in the photo? If that's the case, then it changes the whole story. But it's definately a British-made barrel.

 

[herian]

I have the exact same mark on my 1944 savage made enfield.

 

[Trueno]

Yep, paid a 100 for what's in the pic.

Dang it, hope it's 308, lemme go grab a round and try it in the chamber.








eta: 7.62x51 round drops in just right.


t

 

[rayman1]

Either the Russian company contracted-out and misrepresent their guns or someone went to a lot of trouble to take a British-made barrel and re-chamber it for .308 (if it's in .308).

 

[Trueno]

Either the Russian company contracted-out and misrepresent their guns or someone went to a lot of trouble to take a British-made barrel and re-chamber it for .308 (if it's in .308).

Yep, it's 308. Sure wasn't lookin' forward to a 303 Saiga LOL!


thanks for the input ,

t

 

[SteveM]

IIRC BNP is a standard, not a manufacturer. Like something electric with the UL Underwriter's Labratory mark. Could still be Russian IMHO.

 

[caliri47]

p

My russian & bulgarian krink kits i imported had them.I beleive it's because they are in britian or exported to england, something like that.Not 100% sure.

 

[Trueno]

I've mentioned it before, first impression was that it's American Made by a custom barrel shop but always had a feelin' this was some type of snazzy setup from some secret VEPR or sumthin' (hey, I can dream huh?).


Lookin' at it now though, I have no clue and am right back where I started.

:grin:


t

 

[caliri47]

p

Stottman needs to chime in on this.There is a hungarian gun[ forget which one] in the japanese book with the same mark.

 

[bamaak]

It's my understanding that "nitro proof" stamps date back to the transition from black powder to smokeless powder. To help prevent the new powder being used in a barrel that can not handle it.


I would have expected this mark to appear on older barrels. Maybe this is an old barrel blank that was custom fit to a Saiga.


Do any barrels made in the last 30-40 years have any stamps like this? I have a late 1930s ppk with a nitro proof stamp. .....edit, ..... I see the reference to the Hungarian example now. interesting. a relatively modern barrel with a nitro proof mark.

 

[Trueno]

Better pics of the barrel here:

http://www.theakforum.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=59076



:smile:

 

[Leper]

It's my understanding that "nitro proof" stamps date back to the transition from black powder to smokeless powder. To help prevent the new powder being used in a barrel that can not handle it.


I would have expected this mark to appear on older barrels. Maybe this is an old barrel blank that was custom fit to a Saiga.


Do any barrels made in the last 30-40 years have any stamps like this? I have a late 1930s ppk with a nitro proof stamp. .....edit, ..... I see the reference to the Hungarian example now. interesting. a relatively modern barrel with a nitro proof mark.

Any firearm going through britain will have that mark.

 

[SteveM]

I'm convinced it's a custom job. The .308 caliber and two holes for the front sight tell me it's a Parker-Hale .308 barrel that somebody inverted and drilled a gas port in. Quite alot of work, someone is very talented. I wonder how it shot...not good enough I guess.... :neutral:

 

[rayman1]

I have to agree - that's a very enormous amount of work to do for it. I wonder why they'd go to the trouble then want to get rid of it.

 

[fullautotogo]

i also think this is someones project and my vote is also on parker and hale. if you look at the picture, the circular groves around the rear of the barrel where it go's in the trunnion. these are what are left of the threads they turned off to fit it to the new rifle. the mark is indeed the nitro proof mark of birmingham. i say build it on a saiga and see what happens. it'll look kool if nothing else and could be a good shooter.

 

[Trueno]

I knew if I kept pesterin' everyone enuff about this thing that the gurus would start showin' up. Thanks guys!



Is this a cool website or what!

:hail:

 

[BrianWV]

here is a link to british proof marks
http://www.phoenixinvestmentarms.com/ar ... fmarks.pdf