Loose Rib

[Bruce Day]

I know nothing about Smith barrels but the Smiths pictured are damascus barrels and showed no evidence of having been blued, as bluing is done on fluid steel barrels. They are in for damascus re-browning. Certainly fluid steel doubles must be cold blued.....its not really cold, just not hot enough for the temperatures to melt barrel solder.

I know a little bit about Parkers and if I saw that on a gun I owned I would have the ribs removed and any rust between the barrels cleaned out and stopped. But, I am aware that frequently guns are refreshed for sale and loose ribs just soldered down or glued without removal and cleaning. With that, I am close to the end of my knowledge.

[Old and Reliable]

Interesting post Bruce- I have four 12 gauge Smiths- three are pre-1913, one is a FW made in 1940 with the optional solid higher rib-and one of the pre-1913's is a 2E that was re-fitted in 1927 at Fulton with a set of Nitro Steel ejector barrels 32" 3" Full & Full with original raised ventilated rib- I shoot these guns a lot, no rib problems that I am aware of, and I shoot, handle and clean the barrels on a regular basis-- I would think that re-setting ribs on any side-by might be a real task for the experts, and the business about the hot salts and tank re-blue might be the culprit on Proof Steel barrels- I did have both an early Syracuse Smith OE 12 with Stub Twist barrels and also a Uncle Dan LeFever G Grade 12 (just under the 25xxx sn range) also with Damascus barrels-that had been "refinished" I guess- both guns were $500 range "shooters" for BP events- but I sold them and used the funds for another 12-with WPS barrels--

Each to their own, but if the shotgun fits me, has good balance and refined trigger pulls- "wear with care" or loss of blueing on the barrels (around splinter foregrip areas) is NOT a problem for me- Plus- when you send a double out for refinishing or restoration, all that time it is NOT in your hands been shot and being "gotten used to"-just my opinion is all!!

[John Liles]

Bruce, must be time for a new screen on my end, because there are no visible Damascus swirls that I can see! That would be the advantage of your having seen them in person. In any event, there is no alternative to completely re-laying the ribs at this point, as you have pointed out. For that matter, re-laying the ribs would be appropriate on any gun where corrosion is the underlying cause of rib separation. In many instances, bottom rib separation is the result of impact from a loose fore-end lug, or other non-corrosion related issue, and in those cases repair with-out completely relaying the rib is a much more economical option. When done properly, barrel finish is not compromised, or is hidden under the fore-end, and I've personally sent over a thousand rounds down a set that I repaired without further issue.
John

[Bill Murphy]

Is Dale Edmunds equipped to relay ribs. If not, how does he address this problem?