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If you’ve heard someone mention proof marks or date codes when discussing a SIG Sauer pistol, but weren’t quite sure what those were, then the goal of this article is to bring you up to speed. And even if you’re already familiar with proof marks, maybe this article can broaden your knowledge and teach you something new.
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- Look for two letters on the front of the slide. JE would be 84 or 1984 date of manufacture. Sig Sauer Date Code: A = 0 B = 1 C = 2 D = 3 E = 4 F = 5.
What are Proof Marks?
Proof marks are stamps embedded in certain parts of a firearm following (and sometimes during, depending on the firearm type) its manufacturing to indicate that the firearm has been “proven” to be able to handle the specific type of ammunition for which it was designed. In modern years, they truly do serve that purpose. But like many government regulations, their origins have more to do with self-interest than safety.
The first proof marks started appearing in 15th century France, and by the 17th century, European firearms guildsmen were heavily promoting their use — and lobbying their governments for laws requiring them — primarily to dissuade competition from non-guildsmen and scare potential purchasers away from un-proofed guns.
In 1637, after heavy lobbying from the London Gunmakers Company, a London-area firearms guild, King Charles I issued a Royal Charter setting firearms safety standards. The London Gunmakers Company set up a “proof house” in London, and not surprisingly… firearms makers who were not part of a guild tended to fail testing more often than the guild members. Guns that passed testing were stamped with a mark representing the proof house. Over the next few decades, other countries established their own safety standards and proof houses, along with their own unique marks. Much like reciprocity of modern concealed carry permits between states, some European countries began to recognize each others’ proof marks as a high enough testing standard for foreign countries’ firearms to be legally imported.
Fast forward to 1914, when a number of European countries formed the CIP (Commission Internationale Permanente pour l’Epreuve des Armes à Feu Portatives) as a formal standards group to ensure consistent testing among member countries. As of 2015, the CIP includes 14 member states. In order for a civilian firearm produced in a CIP member state to be legally imported to another CIP country, it must bear the proof mark of a CIP member state (military testing standards are, predictably, different than civilian ones). The United States does not participate in CIP, but instead formed its own standards group named SAAMI (Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute). While the CIP and SAAMI do share information and cooperate, neither has a requirement regarding selling in each other’s countries. Because the US is not a CIP member state, foreign guns do not need a CIP proof mark to be sold in the US, nor do US guns need a US proof mark to be sold in CIP member countries. This is an important fact that will become relevant again later in this article.
Examples of German Proof Marks
Here’s an assortment of mid 20th century proof marks used through Germany’s (and West Germany’s) history:
The top row (a) indicates the German (or East/West German, depending on the year) city in which the proof house is located. The column marked (b) shows varios German/West German proof marks after 1945, while the column marked (c) shows German proof marks used from 1939-1945.
Here’s another image showing the marks of German/West German proof houses, along with the approximate year they were first in use:
Proof Marks on SIG Sauer Pistols
Depending on it’s vintage and model, you might see proof marks on a German / West German SIG’s frame:
Proof mark on a West German P220 frame
Or on its barrel:On the slide chin (the underside of the slide near the muzzle end), which is the most common location for West German and German SIG Sauers:Proof marks on the slide chin of a West German SIG Sauer pistol
To make sense of these proof marks, let’s look at those on the above slide chin.Kiel Proof House Mark
The top proof mark indicates the Kiel Proof House. Since Kiel is only 17 miles from SIG Sauer’s manufacturing facility in Eckernförde, that’s the proof mark you should expect to see on a proofed SIG Sauer. Many refer to the Kiel mark as a “squashed bug,” while others have claimed it’s an oak leaf. Actually, the proof mark is based on the city of Kiel’s coat of arms:
…which in turn is based on the district of Schaumburg’s coat of arms:Coat of arms of Schaumburg
The shape represents a Nesselblatt, or nettle leaf. Tradition held that the leaves of the nettle were symbolic of the nails used to crucify Christ, so the three larger leaves represent the nails of the crucifixion.All true German and West German SIGs were test fired at the Kiel proof house, so the Nesselblatt proof mark is an indicator of a true German or West German SIG. I’ve also heard one report of the Ulm proof house’s stag antler mark appearing on a the frame and slide of a 1993 SIG P226 (in addition to the Kiel mark on the slide), which would imply that the firearm required repair and re-proofing… and presumably the repair took place at a location that was closer to Ulm than Kiel. Normally, you’d expect to see the Ulm proof mark on a Walther or H&K firearm.
The German Definitive Mark and Nitro Testing
Underneath the Kiel Nesselblatt (though the order of the marks is not important), we find the image of an eagle with the letter “N” underneath. Some incorrectly believe that the eagle mark is a remnant of Nazi-era Germany, particularly since Germany’s firearms proof mark was a previously crown, and was changed to an eagle in 1939.
In actuality, the German Reichsadler (literally “Eagle of the Realm”) dates back to the eagle on the standard of the Roman Empire, and was used as a symbol of the Second German Empire as early as 1871… long before the National Socialist German Workers’ Party. The same eagle design has continued its use in West Germany since 1945, but under a new name of Bundesadler, or “Union Eagle.”
The Eagle-N mark signifies that the firearm was proofed in Germany (or West Germany, depending on when the firearm was proofed), while the “N” indicates that the firearm was proofed using a Nitro Beschuss load. “Beschuss” translates as “bombardment,” “shelling,” or “firing” depending on context, and “nitro” is short for “nitrocellulose,” a highly flammable compound used to creates pressures inside the firearm higher than standard gun powder.
Pistols are delivered to the proof houses in their fully assembled form for proofing. For pistols, CIP standards require cartridges that generate pressure 30% higher than the standard ammunition for which the pistol is designed, so the two high pressure nitro rounds are fired through the pistol. Technicians then disassemble the pistol and examine it in a dark room using a fluoroscopic lamp, looking for magnetic flux leakage. Provided everything looks good, the pistol is re-assembled and receives the country’s CIP proof mark indicating what type of test it passed (the Eagle-N or “definitive” mark in the case of a German gun), the mark of the proof house, and marks indicating the date of the tests. The firearms is then returned to the manufacturer who can legally sell the firearm domestically or export it to another CIP country.
The “nitro” proof mark is also referred to as the “definitive” (or final) mark of the proof house, as opposed to a “provisional” mark which would generally only apply to shotgun barrels in an early stage of manufacture, which are tested at proof houses to prevent the manufacturer from continuing work on defective tubes.
Date Codes
Looking back at our photo, the “JK” under the definitive proof mark is the date code. Date codes are two-letter indicators of the year that a firearm was proofed. Major German firearms companies such as Heckler and Koch, Walther, and SIG Sauer all used a similar date code format:
German gun manufacturers used these letters in place of numbers for date codes
Just to keep things interesting, SIG Sauer chose not to use the letter “I” because it looked too much like the numeral “1,” so J = 8 in SIG speak. The proof house in Koln (Cologne), Germany also follows this format. Walther and Heckler & Koch chose to use “I” for 8 but skip “J,” except that you will see a “J” on an H&K magazine’s date code. Gotta love German logic. ?Using the above table, we can determine that the “JK” date code in the photo stands for “89” — meaning this firearm was proofed in 1989… which coincidentally happened to be the year the Berlin Wall came down. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the pistol was manufactured in 1989. It’s quite possible the barrel was made in 1986, the frame in 1987, and the slide in 1988… but that all the parts weren’t assembled together into a firearm and delivered to a proof house until 1989. Or it’s possible that all the parts were actually made in 1989, and then assembled and proofed that same year. There’s no way to know. A true German / West German firearm isn’t technically “born” until it’s been proofed.
Note that a gun’s date code is different than its serial number. It’s impossible to decode a SIG serial number to determine when it was proofed, although you can try to locate the range of your SIG’s serial number in this list to approximate when it was made, or call SIG Sauer with the serial number and see if they have any info in their system. Serial numbers aren’t always truly representative of the chronological order of a firearm, but they can sometimes get you close. Only a date code can tell you the year of proofing.
Proofed vs. Non-Proofed “Made in Germany” Guns
If you’ve read my article on West German vs. German vs. Other SIGs, you’ll know that proof marks are one of the primary indicators or whether a SIG Sauer (or any other firearm) is truly “made” in Germany (or West Germany) as opposed to assembled in the US using German-made parts… even though the parts might be stamped “Made in Germany.” Because the US is not a CIP country, guns marked “Made in Germany” do not need to be proofed in order to be sold here, as long as they are assembled in the US.
In my opinion, a gun without German proof marks (with very few exceptions) is not truly a German gun. Whether that actually affects the desirability or quality of the gun is for you to decide. But you should at least be aware that for most SIG purists, the existence of proof marks is what determines whether a gun is correctly referred to as “Made in Germany.”
Putting it All Together
Now that you know how to decode proof marks and date codes, see if you can figure out where and when the following firearms were proofed. Most are SIGs, but I threw some other German guns in there just for fun. ?
Normally, the proof house mark is above the definitive mark on a SIG, but this is a very early SIG P220
Walther P99
I welcome your corrections, questions, comments, & feedback below.
Further Reading:
- http://firearmshistory.blogspot.com/2011/01/testing-firearms-proof-test.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proof_test
Sauer & Sohn Suhl 1751 to 1947
Sauer & Sohn Suhl was founded 1751 by Lorenz Sauer in Suhl. In the beginning the company only worked with military contracts, but a smaller amount of civilian weapons was made.
1774 the company was run by Lorenz Sauer and J.S. Spangenberg. The company 1815 handed over to Johann-Gottlob Sauer, who in his turn handed the firm to Paul Sauer and Ferdinand Spangenberg 1835
1839 the company changed name to Spangenberg & Sauer after Ferdinand Spangenberg and Johann Paul Sauer.
1840 the company changed the name to 'J. P. SAUER & SOHN' and Lorenz Sauer joins the company.
1849 the company was divided between Sauer and Spangenberg famlilies and for some time the company 'Spangenberg, Sauer u. Sturm Suhl' existed.
1873 Rudolf and Franz Sauer starts again the comapny J.P. Sauer & Sohn. Under 1880 to 1890 some guns was made under the name L. Sauer - Suhl.
1852 J.P. Sauer moved to Steinweg 37 in Suhl
1870 Sauer wins a order on 150 000 rifles for the German army. Up to then this was the largest order in the history of Sauer
1880 the company slowly shifted focus from military production to civilian production due to lack of military orders. A display room was opened in Berlin Franzsicherstrasse 40-41.
1881 Patent for the invention of the three barreled gun (the drilling).
1881 the Sauer company presents a unique SBS rifle that should be a landmark for all modern double rifles for smokeless powder. Together with Friedrich Krupp Sauer develops special steel for barrels.
1882 The first catalogue is produced. Rudolf and Franz Sauer is the only shareholders and runs the company.
1891 patent 60492 for extractor a breech loading gun, and the first patent for expanding bullets.
Sauer introduce Krupp Special steel in four different types:
1. Krupp laufstahl
2. Special Gewehr Laufstahl, Fried.Krupp A.G. Essen.
3. Krupp-Inerso-Laufstahl.
4. Fried.Krupp A.G. Essen Nirosta.
1894 Franz Sauer runs the company and once again the company opens a display room and smaller workshop in Berlin.
1900 the shop in Berlin moves to Jägerstrasse 59-60.
1905 Franz son Hans Sauer joins the company.
1911 Franz son Rolf joins the company.
1912 Suhl Proofhaus change to a crowned N in April 1912.
1913 the company opens a display room and smaller workshop in Hamburg, Brandstwiete 28.
1914-1918 mostly war production.
1915 Mod. 25 Drilling is introduced.
1918 and the years after the war the company is down on it knees and makes typewriters and bikes, temporarily the company is moved to Thüringen and once again starts to develop sporting guns.
1920 the company sticks to sporting guns since all military production is forbidden, the company moves back to Suhl..
1930 Mod. 30 Light steel drilling is introduced.
1931 Mod. 31 Bockbüchsflinte / over and under is introduced.
1932 Mod. 32 lightweight drilling, a somewhat simplified version of the drilling m/30 is introduced due to the harsh economical times. The shop in Berlin is closed.
1933 Mod. 33 Bockbüchsflinte / over and under is introduced
1936 Mod. 36 and 37 Kipplaufbüchse is introduced
1937 the company is controlled by Hans Sauer and Rolf Sauer.
Sig P226 Serial Number Lookup
1939-1945 military production, from 1943 all production is controlled by military command.
Sauer & Sohn Eckernförde 1951 to 2000
History in short and some vital years.
1945 Hans Sauer continues production under Soviet occupation.
1946 Sauer & Sohh Suhl makes 9500 guns for hunting, all exported/confiscated by Soviet.
1947 Sauer & Sohn Suhl is expropriated by the Soviet military administration SMath. Most of the machinery is sent to Sestorosk to form the basis of the factory who’s production we today know as Baikal.
So all guns branded Sauer, Vorm Sauer, Sauer & Sohn that is made in Suhl after 1947 are not made by Sauer - they are made by Fortuna or Thälmann. And are by no means a genuine Sauer & Sohn.
1948 VEB Fortuna is founded on the remains of Sauer & Sohn Suhl
1951 VEB Fortuna is amalgamated with VEB Mewa Ernst Thälmann. From 1951 Thälman makes m/8, m/29E, the drillings m/30 and m/32 from Sauers production before the war. In the beginning they have a lot of material from Sauers prewar production and the guns are normally engraved with either of the following trade names: Merkel, Sauer & Sohn Suhl, Vorm. Sauer and plain Sauer.
1951 Sauer & Sohn Eckernförde is started by Rolf Sauer in Eckerförde in West Germany, and the first gun to make is the m/8. No drawings was rescued from Suhl so Sauer started by taking a prewar m/8 into pieces and make the drawings from that gun. Since Sauer & Sohn Suhl was founded 1751 one cannot by being impressed that they managed in less than a year to start up production. The production started in december, on the 20:th of december.
Sig Sauer Serial Number List
1955 a updated version of the drilling m/30 as m/3000.
1957 Sauer starts to produce guns for Weatherby due to Sauer very high quality production.
1961 Sauer is sold to Dynamit Nobel, and again 1965 to the Murmann family. The production of quality guns in Eckerförde continues.
1972 common production between SIG and Sauer.
1974 J.P. Sauer is now a part in the Swiss concern SIG. The production at J-. P. Sauer at Sauer Weg, Eckernförde is expanding. Approx. 10% of the staff works with development.
1984 Sauer m/200 is introduced, one of the first models with easily replaceable barrels. Sauer and Franchi presents a over and under shotgun that is sold in large quantities.
1993 Sauer m/202 is introduced.
2000 Sauer celebrates its 250-years jubilee. The company is sold to Michael Löke and Thomas Ortmeier by SIG Holding Inc.
Sauer & Sohn Links
A very good article in Danish about Sauer&Sohn history including a list of serial numbers from 1880 to 1924 by Peter Ravn Lund: www.bryndumlund.dk
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Senast uppdaterad/Last update: 2013-06-04