+ Mark on Barrel Flats ?

[Christian Gish]

Would appreciate comments about the the meaning of + marks on breech end of barrel flats as seen on page 49 of Identification and Serialization book, Figure F-4? I have a 1905 VH 12 gauge, Vulcan steel barrels with such marks. Thanks, Fred

[Dean Romig]

Dave Suponski suggests it is an indication that that particular barrel is over bored. Some guns have just one barrel with the + stamp while other guns might have both barrels so marked.... and then there are the multitudes of Parkers without these stamps at all. Dave tells us also that upon measuring these barrels so stamped that they are indeed over bored or have bore sizes greater than the standard or nominal ID for the gauge.

But we have no empirical evidence that this theory is fact.






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[Christian Gish]

Dean, thanks for your comments. that makes sense.

Fred