Barrel Flat Marking

[Kevin McCormack]

Steven;

Please tell us the SN of this gun. It may be the key to interpreting the marks in question. The HT/A and K markings are not "unknown or unexplainable"; HT/A could stand for high tensile strength alloy (e.g., chrome or molybdenym) and the K may well stand for a steelmaking process derivative of the Krupp (Germany) process developed and perfected almost in tandem with the English Sheffield steelmaking process of the late 1920's/early 1930's. Winchester took advantage of both in the production of the Model 21, which used steel produced under both formulae throughout the gun, resulting in incredible ductile (psi. resilience and elasticity) properties which represented the first real breakthrough in gun barrel steel making since Sir Joseph Whitworth's "compressed fluid steel" process developed just before the turn of the century (pre-1900). The SN of this gun is crucial to the interpretation of these marks.