doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Depth of barrel stampings

I seems to me that barrel stampings such as this would be more troublesome concerning wall thickness than some of the bore pitting we see.

Look at the ones at the end of the chambers on this gun.


http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=243241902

Nothing unusual....elegant hammer gun. I'm almost tempted.

Pitting is just uglier.

The guy says the bores are bright and shiny

I agree with 2holer. Any flaw in the barrel wall would weaken it. Why is a barrel stamping, especially in the chamber area, of no concern?

Looked at another way: If the wall is thick enough to take a deep barrel stamp and still have the appropriate strength, it is overbuilt. Why not stamp elsewhere (like somewhere on the edge of the flat), and make the barrel wall thinner?

--shinbone

2holer:
Fear not. The Birmingham Proof House put the deep ones in there AFTER the barrels passed proof, and BEFORE they were made into a gun. And they used a stamping bar to support the chamber. The proof master knew what he was about. As stated, this gun is probably safe with appropriate loads.

1) There's margin well above the minimums (relatively low stress). 2) The steel in barrels is of low strength and low hardness and therefore is ductile and flaws like stampings and fancy engraving on the breach (commonly wedges and lightning bolts) have little significance on fatigue cracking. 3) you could make the barrel wall thinner, the stress will go up, and then the surface becomes more critical.

You can agree all you want but the proof stamps are not in the least bit unusual.

I agree with HoJo. Perfectly normal proof stampings. I'd buy that gun in a heartbeat. Well, after making sure the bbls were not severely honed and were in proof and it was on face.
Now, the lever seems to be on the LH side. Is the stock cast for a lefty? Most sidelever guns have the lever on the right, right?
Photos reversed?
Mike

I have poor condition Birmingham proofed W Richards, which I do not believe to be one of the William Richards guns. Its configuration is virtually identical to this one, ie lever on the left. I believe this left lever was fairly common on very early guns. Although it is not in usable condition just from handling I believe the left lever position would actually be more convienent than a right position. I keep this gun solely because of its sentimental value to me, was my Grandfather's. Unfortunately between when he had it & my acquiring it, it rceived absolutely no care & shows it.
Judging from the space between the flats & the beginning of the proof marks it would appear to me they are beyond the chamber area where the max pressure occurs. I would certainly see this as no problem on this gun.
I might question it having been "Custom Made", unless he is saying made in a "Customary Manner".