twist barrel "pitting"

[Double Trouble]

My old Parker hammer gun (ca. 1886 w/ twist barrels) has what looks like faint "rings" or "crescents" visible in the bore. My barrels do have some pitting, but nothing bad at all.

My worry is this: are these crescents just pitting/corrosion at the boundaries between the twisted iron/steel, or could they be cracks ?

Obviously, that's a rhetorical question. What I should have asked is this: Have those of you with twist barrels ever noticed the same thing ?

Thanks !

John

[Leighton Stallones]

I have an 1887 Parker Hammergun with a ring and slight bulge about 12 inches in front of the chamber. Also have a 16 ga S. Grant with a inside ring appearance a few inches in front of one chamber. I attribute it to wads sticking after a misfire. I peened the Parker bulge back to normal and have shot it quite a lot without any changes.
The answer of course is: Who knows?

[Double Trouble]

Thank you for your reply !

One of these days, I will have Dewey Vicknair check the gun. I doubt it's anything serious (I sure as h*ll hope not !). I've shot this gun quite a bit over the past 5 or 6 years. It fits me perfectly and breaks clay birds as if someone else was shooting it.

I love this old workhorse ! It's my "cheapest" Parker - but it's my favorite !


Thanks again !

John

[Austin W Hogan]

I have seen two Parker barrels, a PT and an L3 with what I call a "missed turn" but may very well be an inclusion or corrosion.
Both barrels showed a black line which continued for almost full circle around the inside of the bore. The seam also showed on the outside of the PT. The L3 had a wider line that I interpreted as a missing lamina in one of the bands, which was surrounded by an otherwise bright bore.
A friend once told me of hunting with an ancestor who had owned his GH. The GH ejected smoke jets under the rib with each shot. When he obtained the gun he could see light through the holes. They work until they go.

Best, Austin

[RJ Jose]

This proves that once again Parkers were ahead of their time. First SXS with muzzle breaks.

[Paul Harm]

On some of my twist barrel guns I believe the twist pattern is visable looking down the bore, but that my just be me. Paul

[Richard Flanders]

Nothing like a factory "ported" Parker!

[Old and Reliable]

I read Mr. Stallones reply with great interest- when you weld with the SMAW (stick rod) process, either a chipping hammer or an air driven chipper not only removes surface slag, but stress relieves the metal in the HAZ areas- But the metal still is fairly warm from the Arc heat input-

To peen a rounded barrel "in situ" might be a challange- both top and bottom ribs prevent a full 360 degree impingment of the hammer face, to chase the stresses into a circle--

Did you use a fitted mandrel inside the barrel- most folks I know aren't aware of the reason why the back face of a machinists and or peening hammer is rounded- you strike a portion of a metal arced surface such as a gun barrel with the flat face of your hammer- Not Good--