Gun Barrel Proof Act 1868

X1SCHEDULE B.U.K. Rules and Regulations and Scales applicable to the Proof of Small Arms.

Classification of Small Arms.U.K.

First Class.—Comprising Single-barrelled Military Arms of Smooth Bore, not being Breech Loaders or Revolvers.

Second Class.—Comprising Double-barrelled Military Arms of Smooth Bore and Rifled Arms of every Description, whether of One or more Barrels, or constructed of plain or twisted Iron, not being Breech Loaders or Revolvers.

Third Class.—Comprising every Description of Single-barrelled Birding and Fowling Pieces for firing small Shot, and also those known by the Names of Danish, Dutch, Carolina, and Spanish, not being Breech Loaders or Revolvers.

Fourth Class.—Comprising every Description of Double-barrelled Birding and Fowling Pieces for firing small Shot, and Breech-loading Small Arms of every Description and System, not being Revolvers.

Fifth Class.—Comprising Revolving Small Arms of every Description and System.

Rule of Proof.U.K.

The Gunpowder used shall be of equal Quality and Strength with that which is now used or from Time to Time shall hereafter be used by [F1the Ministry of Defence].

The Bullets used shall be of Lead, and of the Size and Weight prescribed by the respective Scales for Proof; in Shape, except Bullets used for Rifled Arms, they shall be spherical, cylindrical, or conical.

The Wads used, except Wads used for Rifled Arms, shall be of Felt, or Cork, or Paper, and shall not exceed in Thickness the Length of One Diameter of the Bore, one Wad to be placed over the Powder and the other over the Bullet.

As to Rifled Arms of every Description, the Quantity of Powder used for the First Proof shall be Three hundred per Cent. and for the Second Proof Two hundred per Cent. of the Service Charge. The Bullets used shall be flat-ended Projectiles of Lead, and cylindrical, calculated on the Specific Gravity of Lead being 11·352, and for the First and Second Proof they shall be One hundred and thirty-five per Cent. of the Service Weight. The Wads used shall be of solid Felt or Cork, and shall be in Thickness the Length of One Diameter of the Bore, one Wad to be placed over the Powder and the other over the Bullet.

Barrels for Arms of the Second and Fourth Classes shall be proved provisionally and definitively, or, at the Request in Writing of the Person or Persons sending the Barrels for Proof, shall be proved once only, in which Case such Barrels shall be sent in the State for definitive Proof, but shall be proved according to the Scale for provisional Proof, and shall be marked with a special Mark denoting that such Barrels have been proved in the definitive State according to the Scale for provisional Proof; and, subject as herein-after mentioned, Barrels for all other Arms shall be proved once definitively; but nevertheless the Scale used for proving such Barrels for Arms of the Third Class as have the Diameter of the Bore in every Part One Inch and a Quarter or upwards shall be the provisional Scale.

It shall be sufficient from Time to Time to prove all Breech-loading Military Barrels in the same Manner as Breech-loading Military Barrels made for the Use of Her Majesty’s Forces, and with the same Weight of Gunpowder and the same Description of Cartridge as are now used or from Time to Time shall hereafter be used in the Proof of similar Barrels at the Government Factory at Enfield.

As to any Military Barrel made for the Use of Her Majesty’s Forces, or for the late Honourable East India Company, which has ceased to belong to Her Majesty, but which bears, in addition to a Proof Mark authorized by [F1the Ministry of Defence], the Letter O struck (prior to such Cesser) over or upon the Broad Arrow or some Part thereof by the said [F1Ministry], it shall, if it be a Rifled Barrel, be proved with definitive Proof, or if it be a Smooth Bore Barrel with Half the Charge of Powder, but with the same Weight of Bullet which would be applicable to the Proof thereof if such Barrel were an unproved Barrel under this Act, and after either such Proof such Barrel shall be marked as proved definitively; and as to any Military Barrel made for the Use of Her Majesty’s Forces, or for the late Honourable East India Company, which has ceased to belong to Her Majesty, and which does not bear, in addition to a Proof Mark authorized by [F1the Ministry of Defence], the Letter O or the Letter S struck (prior to such Cesser) over or upon the Broad Arrow or some Part thereof by that [F1Ministry], it shall (whether it shall or shall not bear a Proof Mark authorized by that [F1Ministry]) be liable to Proof as an unproved Barrel according to its Classification under this Act.

Conditions precedent to Proof.U.K.

Barrels for Arms of the First Class shall not be qualified for Proof until they shall be in a fit and proper State for setting up, and the Thread of the Screws sound and full.

Barrels for Arms of the Third Class shall not be qualified for Proof until they shall be in a fit and proper State for setting up, with the Squares set off looped, and the proper Breeches in the Thread of the Screws sound and full; and all Barrels lumped for percussioning shall be proved through the Nipple with the proper Pins or Plugs in.

Barrels for Arms of the Second and Fourth Classes:

For provisional Proof:—If of plain Metal, shall be bored and ground, having Plugs attached, with Touch-holes drilled in the Plugs of a Diameter not exceeding One Sixteenth of an Inch. Notches in the Plugs, instead of drilled Touch-holes, shall disqualify for Proof. If of twisted Metal, they shall be fine-bored, and struck up with proving Plugs attached, and Touch-holes drilled, as in the Case of plain Metal Barrels.

For definitive Proof:—The Barrels, whether of plain or twisted Metal, shall be smoothed in the finished State, with the Breeches in the percussioned State, Huts filed up, Bars of Barrels intended for Bar Locks properly filed up on the Top and Bottom Sides, the Top and Bottom Ribs of Double Barrels shall be rough struck up, Pipes, Loops, and Stoppers on the proper Breeches in the Thread of the Screws sound and full, and all Rifle Barrels shall be rifled.

Barrels for Breech-loading Arms, all which are subject to provisional Proof and to definitive Proof, shall receive the latter Proof after the Breech-loading Action is attached and complete.

Barrels for Revolving Arms shall have the Cylinders or Chambers with the Revolving Action attached and complete.

Marks of Proof.U.K.

The Marks denoting definitive Proof shall be the Proof and View Marks now used by the Two Companies respectively; (that is to say,)

As to the Gunmakers Company:

The Letters G P interlaced in a Cypher surmounted by a Crown, and the View Mark being the Letter V surmounted by a Crown; (videlicet,)

As to the Guardians:

Two Sceptres crossed, a Crown in the top Angle formed by the crossing of the Sceptres, the Letter B in the proper right Angle, the Letter C in the proper left Angle, and the Letter P in the lower Angle; and the View Mark being Two Sceptres crossed, a Crown in the top Angle formed by the crossing of the Sceptres, and in the lower Angle the Letter V; (videlicet,)

The Marks denoting provisional Proof shall be as follows:

As to the Gunmakers Company:

The Letters G P interlaced in a Cypher surmounted by a Lion rampant; (videlicet,)

As to the Guardians:

The Letters B P interlaced in a Cypher surmounted by a Crown; (videlicet,)

The Marks denoting provisional Proof of Barrels proved in the State for definitive Proof shall be as follows:

As to the Gunmakers Company:

The Letters V G P interlaced in a Cypher surmounted by a Lion rampant; (videlicet,)

As to the Guardians:

The Letters V B P interlaced in a Cypher surmounted by a Crown; (videlicet,)

Mode of affixing Proof Marks.U.K.

On Arms of the First, Third, and Fifth Classes the definitive Proof Mark and View Mark shall be impressed at the Breech End of the Barrel, and if the Barrel be constructed with a Patent Breech or with Revolving Cylinders or Chambers the View Mark shall be also impressed upon the Breech, or upon every Cylinder or Chamber, if more than One, with which the Barrel is connected.

On Arms of the Second and Fourth Classes proved provisionally and definitively the provisional Proof Mark shall be impressed at the Breech End of the Barrel, and the definitive Proof Mark and View Mark shall be impressed upon the Barrel above the provisional Proof Mark; and if the Barrel be constructed with a Patent Breech, or with a Breech-loading Action, or with Breech Blocks or Chambers, the View Mark shall be also impressed upon the Breech or Breech-loading Action, or upon each of the Breech Blocks or Chambers, if more than One, with which the Barrel is connected.

On Arms of the Second and Fourth Classes proved provisionally in the State for definitive Proof the Proof Mark shall be impressed at the Breech End of the Barrel, and if the Barrel be constructed with a Patent Breech, or with a Breech-loading Action, or with Breech Blocks or Chambers, shall be also impressed upon the Breech or Breech-loading Action, or upon each of the Breech Blocks or Chambers, if more than One, with which the Barrel is connected.

On all Barrels the Gauge Size of the Barrel shall be struck at the definitive Proof.