Barrel Markings on DH?

[Sam Hershfield]

Got my "new" DH Damascus 12 today. Anyone know what these barrel markings are? Barrel Lug: Along with "2" frame size is an "8" perpendicular to it and a "120" on the rear facing the breech. Flats: along with the "4,4" weight and "D" for grade, there is a "4" above the grade and a "C" above the weight. And a "3" at the breech end of the flats. Any ideas?

[Dean Romig]

The 3 at the breech end of he right barrel flat is the grade of he gun.

The 120 on the rear of the lug should be the last three digits of the gun's serial number.

The meaning of the C is unknown.

The D is for Damascus, not the grade.

The 4 represents 4-iron crolle.

We don't know the meaning of he 8.

[Sam Hershfield]

The 3 at the breech end of he right barrel flat is the grade of he gun.

The 120 on the rear of the lug should be the last three digits of the gun's serial number.

The meaning of the C is unknown.

The D is for Damascus, not the grade.

The 4 represents 4-iron crolle.

We don't know the meaning of he 8.


Here are some pix. In addition the breech end of the flats have "+" signs on each side. and the forend lug has an "X" on it. No idea what any of it means.

[Dean Romig]

The X is thought to be an inspector's mark. Likewise the + stamps.

[Dave Suponski]

I have often thought that the + symbols could represent a bore that might be a bit over nominal. Such as a set of tubes that were patterned and were returned to the barrel borer to have a bit more choke put in them. JMHO though.

[Bill Murphy]

Dave, you're making me tired. You mean I have to dig out guns and measure bores?

[Steve Huffman]

Dave did you mean add choke (tighter)or take away ( open up) ?

[Dean Romig]

In order to add choke to a finished set of barrels they must be "jug choked" or "back bored" resulting in barrels that have been "over bored".

[Dave Suponski]

Steve, My thoughts are that the barrels were sent back to the barrel dept. to be back bored for more choke constriction. The + sign might be added to inform future employees that these barrels have larger than nominal bores. Or.....the tubes could have been bored oversize during the original barrel boring operation and this is a stamp to indicate that.

Maybe I should start a new thread asking members to measure the bores of guns they have with the + sign to find out if my thinking is on track or just BS.

[Dean Romig]

I think you should.

[Sam Hershfield]

So, some Parkers flats have an Alpha designation like my "VH" and some just had a numeric like Dean Romig says the "3" is for on my "DH"? Interesting.

[Dean Romig]

No, the barrel flats only have the numeric grade designation and the water table on the frame will often have both.