Interpret this

[Pa SxS]

I think we pretty much agree that some type of damage was done to the very end of the barrels and 1/2 inch was cut off at the factory. The problem with reading their writing is that they used fountain pens which made the lines thick and couple this with the style of writing and how they formed their letters back in those days does make it a challenge. There also extraneous marks such as dots and other marks, probably dirt or something else that was then copied when the records were copied. The first word "Whole" could be read as White but it wouldn't make sense. Also note the small dash through the "o" and a small mark at the "l" which could have been interpreted as a "t", and the "e" at the end of the word could be a "r". Also note in the word "stretched", the first "e" is the old style of "e" and the last "e" is the newer style.

Thanks for everyone's help.

[Pa SxS]

I agree Jent, I handled that gun. More than 1/2" was damaged on that gun!