A friend was showing me a 4” heavy barrel, square butt model 64. From the s/n we figured it was made around ‘87 or ‘88. I noticed the proof mark on the back of the cylinder, then we saw the importers mark, (Duffys, Inc., Sparks, MD,) and more proof marks on the barrel flat. There’s another proof mark on the top of the frame where it meets the barrel.

We looked in a few books and figured the flaming bomb with the letter L in it is a Belgian proof, but what about the other?

Does anyone know the story on these re-imports?

Thanks,

Bill

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The flaming bomb is the marking of the proof house, in this case Leige, Belgium. That would be where the gun entered the EU. The star P I believe represents smokeless proof testing. The letter H is a date code, that can be referenced off a chart to get the year. Sometimes you will also see a markings that represents the individual proof tester's "signature". In addition there will often be markings to represent the distributor of the gun, a name or acronym.

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~ S&W aficionado in training ~

The underlined H means that it was proofed in 1992.
It is my understanding that the letter with a star above should be the mark of the person who performed the proofing however, I can't seem to find any reference to the reversed P.

Here is a couple of links that may be of interest :

http://www.hunting.be/wp-content/upl...roof-Marks.pdf

European proof marks on 686-6


Edit : Could what I read as a reversed P in fact be a Q?
If so, the revolver was proofed by a Mr. Dosogne Alain.

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S&W J/K/L/N/X

I have a Model 31-1 with Belgian proofmarks on the barrel flat, cylinder and frame and the European importer/distributor name WISCHO on the barrel flat. It came in the original box with paperwork and there are no additional stickers or labels on it. My guess is it was brought back to the US by a serviceman who bought it at the base Rod & Gun club or exchange, it shipped from S&W in November of 1986.

After reading some of the same links you folks provided I came to the same conclusion. I do wonder why it went to Belgium, though.

The gun has Pachmayr grips on it, the timing is perfect, and the hammer doesn’t push off, but the ejector rod is ever so slightly bent. It’s been fired, with light wear overall. Just another good solid 64. Before we found a description of the the flaming bomb/L proof mark I tried to convince the friend that it was a C, meaning China, and that I’d give him $25 for it. He didn’t bite.

Thanks to everyone who responded, now and in the future.

Bill

It is not unlikely that it was originally sold in Germany.
My 686 -4 and 629 -5 both wear German import marks, Akah and Wischo respectively, as well as Liege proofs.

German importers are known to ship handguns off to Belgium for proof testing.

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S&W J/K/L/N/X

I bought a 66-5 a few years back. I think it was from AIM Surplus. It had Belgian marks and was advertised as an ex-Belgian police revolver.

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