Traditions barrel

[JamesKelly]

Does anyone know - for sure - exactly what these marks on my Traditions Kentucky kit barrel mean? Yeah, they look like they should be proof marks. But are they for real, has this barrel actually been proofed? Or might they be something added to help market these rifles. I googled Spanish proofs but could not find any clear contemporary information.

I admit to being a trifle paranoid. I am a metallurgist, for some half-century + now. In the 1980's I was involved as an expert witness assisting a few gentlemen who had been crippled by their side-lock percussion muzzle loaders. No, smokeless was not involved. Yes, I am picky about what my barrel should be made of. I stopped shooting my own rifle when I learned what I'd used for a barrel. Now I would like to turn this Traditions kit into a Faux Leman, with tacks & maybe rawhide, just to mess around with.

 

[Ephraim Kibbey]

None of the ads for these online brag that they have been proofed.

Some ads state that Traditions has a "lifetime warranty" on these.

If the gun blows up, does that end its "lifetime" and the warranty?

You should contact Traditions:

https://www.traditionsfirearms.com/

 

[Crawdad1]

That 'X' or Cross within the Shield under a visored helm is a Spanish proof mark. I've never seen a PN on a Spanish rifled barrel before. The CIP mean the Permanent International Commission or accreditations of the various participating country's Proof Houses. .

http://askmisterscience.com/1896mauserbackup/spanishproofs.htm

That PN bothers me though I've never seen that mark. I would call the NRA they will probably have someone who knows international Proof laws or at least a name and a phone number.

 

[whughett]

"P" for Polivere, "Powder" "N" for Nero "Black" Italian proof marks . The crest should be the proof house cartouche.

 

[Panzerschwein]

So Robert DeNiro is "Robert Black" in Italian?

 

[Crawdad1]

Since when do you have both Spanish and Italian Proof marks on the same barrel? They would be either Spanish or Italian not both and since the barrel was made in Spain those have to be Spanish 'Proof' marks. If the OP is correct and the barrel was made in Spain.

 

[BullSlinger]

Last I knew the Spanish did not proof each barrel, only a few in a lot. A lot could be any where from 50 to 200 or more. Don't believe the seller that you can safely put 3 pellets in ( 150 gr ). Follow the powder or pellet manufactures recommendations.

 

[Ephraim Kibbey]

Polvo Negro is black powder in Spanish so PN could be on the up and up!

 

[4v50 Gary]

So Robert DeNiro is "Robert Black" in Italian?

DeNiro is not the same as DeNero. De generally signifies "of" and methinks it is "of black." Remember that when immigrants came here it was not unusual for the Immigration Authority to phonetically spell their names. Who knows?

 

[Crawdad1]

Polvo Negro is black powder in Spanish so PN could be on the up and up!

Yes, that is probably what it is.

 

[whughett]

Yes, that is probably what it is.

Well I just went to the old "net" and looked at proof markings. I've all I can do to master English let alone any other language. That proof house cartouche, assuming it is a proof house cartouche, didn't show up on any charts I looked at. In Italy would also have an "F" for final proof.

 

[Crawdad1]

They should be under Spanish Proof marks and I already posted a link to the Spanish Proof marks above.

Under that list 'Proof Mark' listed as #4 is the closest I can find. Unless I'm completely off base and you are right if it is an Italian barrel Whughett.