During our refinishing process, we chart and date barrel stamps.
The diamond P remains to be an elusive mystery. What we have learned so far is a few comminalities. This mark appears On lifter and top lever guns, made around 1880. We have identified it on laminate, twist, and Dam. barrels.
It generally is stamped on the right tube next to the extractor rod cut. In a few cases we have seen it on the forend hanger.
Quite often this mark is partially removed by machining. This leads me to believe it might be an acceptance mark, stamped after the initial barrel and lug assembly. Final fitting of the extractor rod clearance often removes some or all of the mark. The absense of braze in the mark also tells me that it was stamped after the lug brazing.
Brad
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