I second this. Shot rub through would make sense, but not a crack. Keep us posted.

-Victor

Sorry to hear of your Baker problem. I seem to recall seeing an article or thread that had pictures of a damascus barrel that failed in a line along the rib. When the ribs were taken off there was heavy, heavy corrosion, especially where the bottom rib met the barrel. IIRC the consensus was that acid from the etching process on a barrel refinish was sealed inside the rib void with moisture and that caused the corrosion. Does anyone else recall that? It may be my memory is just playing tricks on me.

Dunno, looks “cracky” to me....Hope you guys are right though!!

Mark just an idea. I made a tool out of a brass rod that allows me to insert into a barrel and feel visable pitting. It does not measure how deep, but you might be surprised how swallow pitting really is that looks bad.
You can detect with some degree how sever the pitting is. Dean Harris with SKEETS Gave me this idea.
I am sure you could detect a crack using his tool. Also with out too much work you could build a vaccum or pressure tester. Even pluging the end of the barrel and pouring in some solvent should confirm a leak I would think.
It just seems strange the crack would be so perfect.
My experience where I have seen corrosion along an aircraft stringer where it meets the fuselage skin, the line although it ran horizontal fairly stright. The resulting crack was jagged and very porous.

http://parkerguns.org/forums/attachm...1&d=1518493051

Man, I hope you guys are right...have lots of “testing ideas...will report as i begin getting insight. On another note, tha 1frame VH 16 resto, I got in today is a nice gun...weighs just 6.e lbs, feels great!,.....

If this turns out to be a scratch, gonna throw a lil party...but not hopeful.....

Stay Tuned

How do they sound if you tap them ? Would they still ring with a crack ? Can you plug it and pressure test rubber stoppers and air under water .

That does sound rough. In hindsight actually you should be probably thankful in your prudent maintenance to find the issue before it discovered you. I am thankful to be reading about a broken gun instead of a cataclysmic failure and a broken you. Hopefully it is a shot scratch but even then it may have weakened barrels which would give me pause. Sounds like a nice gun but also sounds like you have plenty of other big bore guns to safely shoot now that your a small bore man now with that new to you 16 gauge. Out with the old, old and in with the new old.:):dh:

BTw, if you have a dentist friend go and get an old probe from him, if it is a crack that probe will feel it like a cavity toot sweet. I think the brass gizmo Phil worked up is great but you may need a sharper point. I am sure there are lots of thoughts to a cause and cure. I try and never tell a man what he should do with his time, money or toys and hopefully a modest cure and solution is available, but doing nothing and moving on is an option.

Also just remembered Edgar Spencer is the sites resident and practicing metallurgist. He may have some thoughts as well. A while back we got into a discussion regarding steel re-crystallization and old barrels, but don't think this what is happening. He maybe able to weigh in. Could be a combination of things that are finally rearing its ugly head.

Send the barrels to Brad Batchelder and have him evaluate them.

Sorry to say, but this issue is NOT one that can be resolved on this forum. An expert professional hands-on evaluation is the only way to be sure. I suggest you contact Kirk Merrignton. He's the one who can discern the truth of it.

http://www.merringtongun.com