S&W 624 with Liege Proof

[krinko]

Liege proof on bottom of barrel, bottom of the frame and rear face of the cylinder. Otherwise a straight up stainless pistol.
What is this Belgian mark doing on a Smith? Is it just something required by law for an American pistol in Belgium?
-----krinko

 

[PapaG]

I'll have to look at mine next time I'm in the safe.

 

[Riomouse911]

Post a picture of the proof Mark, I don’t recall what the ones on my old off-duty HiPower looked like. (It was a 1967 vintage, Belgian made)

Stay safe.

 

[krinko]

The definitive proof for a foreign arm is the only part on the cylinder and frame, the one on the bottom of the barrel is more involved. Proof marks on Belgian made weapons are not the same.
-----krinko

 

[PzGren]

Any firearm that is sold to the public in a CIP member country has to be proofed in an official proof house. It shows that your gun had been in Belgium and was re-imported. If it was a private import, it lacks the import markings of the U.S. licensed importer.

CIP proof marks have changed in recent years and the proof marks that had been applied by member countries have been more standardized.

 

[krinko]

"Any firearm that is sold to the public in a CIP member country has to be proofed in an official proof house."

That's what I was thinking, but there is a woeful lack of interest in CIP regulations and proof rules here. Hard to get good information---so thanks for that PzGren.
-----krinko

 

[Riomouse911]

With the Belgian proofs, I wonder if it was a military PX purchase overseas? That would be pretty cool .

Again, OP that’s a really nice find. I love the 4” 624 and 657 Smiths .

Stay safe.

 

[PzGren]

Krinko, I was inside of the proofhouse in the basement of SIG Sauer in Eckernfoerde several times and had the whole procedure of proofing explained to me in detail, not just how and who had loaded the ammo to the specs, in general 30% higher gas pressures, but also saw the measuring tools and could take some of the empty brass that was specially marked home.

It can only be guessed as to who may have imported the gun. All private imports do not need to be importer marked and not just military but also all U.S. citizens returning to the country do not need go go through an FFL importer but the last two can do the import themselves on the ATF forms when they return.


This link will give a good idea about CIP and shows the old and new proof marks:

Accueil | CIP BOBP (cip-bobp.org)

Even in the above official document there is a mistake, it lists the Proofhouse as Kiel but it actually is in Eckernfoerde, the main office is in Kiel but the actual facility of the proofhouse is in the basement of SIG Sauer.