For UK proof there have been a number of revisions of the rules over time, each with a slightly different set of marks. You can therefore tell under which set of rules a gun was proofed (and hence era). Some general info is here, with some examples:fino wrote:So my next question would be if the reproved punches by any way state the year that the gun was reproved. Do you know anything regarding that?
http://www.vintageguns.co.uk/articles/514-2/
And the most recent (2006) rules are available here, although if you are looking at vintage guns it may be less applicable. Still interesting though:
http://www.gunproof.com/Proof_Memoranda/RULESOFP.PDF