Rib Matting Terminations

[Bruce Day]

The rib termination is a good indicator of cut barrels but not the only, and as we have seen, a gun can be right although it has no rib termination line. I've seen many guns with a rib termination at least a quarter inch back from the end, as was the situation in the previous post. Wouldn't want to pass up a good gun on an incorrect assumption.

An odd rib termination raises issues, but its not the final determination. That's why I started the post and photos are the best way to present the issue.

People talk about altering the rib matting with a Dremel grinder. Yes, they can make it look correct when viewed from above, but since you have to grind away the rib peaks, you have to grind away to the rib valleys and you end with a lowered surface that a careful viewer will spot. Too bad I didn't take a photo to illustrate one of those.

[10ga Hammer]

Ok, So what accounts for the differences? Are we to assume that PB cut down already assembled barrels to shorter lengths for some orders? When were final bore and choke honeing completed, before or after the ribs were laid?Anyone have Meriden's number?, lets call and find out!

[Autumn Daze]

Robert,As Bill has mentioned.I have had a couple of guns that are documented by factory records that the barrels were cut and the gun was shipped within a couple of weeks of the order date.An interesting note about this is that both guns had the barrel keels in place.

[Bill Murphy]

Dave, I bet that they still had choke too. I sure wish they were still in business. Whatever you wanted they delivered, and it was "two bucks". No wonder they aren't here today.

[Autumn Daze]

Bill,You are correct.In fact if I remember right they had a fair amount of choke.