Just a note to those of you who thought my comment about lifting barb wire in the rain was literary hyperbole, let me assure you not. The actual event was part and parcel of a longer story that involved my having nicely refinished the wood on that gun a year or two earlier. A few years after the described event he asked about a full metal resotration. I thought, "What the...?" I get prickly about nonsense like that. Sigh.
I've noticed guns over the years that bore the scars of barbed wire in various locations. Seems to be a geographic thing. In my neck of the woods, many hunters push down the top strand of barbed wire with the buttplate resulting in excessive wear on that part. I've heard that the forearm or area in front of the trigger guard is used to do the same in areas of the midwest. I've seen quite a few guns with scratched trigger plates or action bottoms and forearm wood that looks like the dog chewed it where the rest of the gun is in otherwise good shape. I admit to having used the buttplate or recoil pad to hold down electric fence wire while crossing. Fortunately, I've never had one slip while straddling same. I use my hand to hold barbed wire. I just don't grab onto the pointy parts!
L. Brown is correct about having the water VERY hot when cleaning guns and drying VERY thoroughly. After cleaning and drying, I set the barrel and lock next to the ductwork on top of my furnace overnight to drive off any trace of moisture before oiling.
