London proof marks on rifles (recent)

[truser00]

With the London Proof House no longer stamping new actions, has anyone come across the case where an action goes for refinishing and upon blasting the surface, the lasered proof mark is no longer present?

Or similar cases like barrels being cerakoted or old-school epoxy painted after proofing.

 

[enfieldspares]

I was told, and it may have been true then but not now correct, that the Proof Act stated that the marks had to be STAMPED and by that stamp IMPRESSED on the barrel or relevant part and that these engraved marks are therefore not legally proper.

 

[Greenmist]

Same rifle, different barrels, first one was engraved and poorly, second one was stamped then cerakoted, both had proof marks at the muzzle on the underside behind the threading. I suppose not stamping is akin to tax disks and MOT certificates being issued on paper and all info being online

 

[truser00]

I was told, and it may have been true then but not now correct, that the Proof Act stated that the marks had to be STAMPED and that these engraved marks are therefore not legally proper.

That doesn't appear to be in the Act currently.

Proof marks on barrels had previously been engraved with a pantograph for quite some time so I would be surprised if it ever was the case.

London suggest they still do stamp and pantograph "depending on the result be required". The result required legally is that the proof mark is visible, not a mere scratch on the surface, and can't easily be tampered with or sort of made to disappear, from what I remember 15 minutes ago. Especially when a substrate has a black epoxy paint coating, which doesn't react to a laser as steel would, one would think they would have resorted to more serious methods of marking.

 

[JRF]

The quality of Proof marks from London is the least of their problems. But if you ask for deep engraving they will do it.

 

[Red stag]

Last one I got back recently I could hardly see it and it totally disappeared when I Cerakoted it