Argo;

Thanks for your quick reply.

In that particular instance, I believe the last minute barrel browning/blacking was as a result of an overall tight schedule of Churchill in the finishing of the subject shotgun. I have wondered what sort of proper barrel blacking job could have been done in such a short period, if indeed the schedule Churchill was as tight as he writes.

I suspect however, when the production schedule of building guns and rifles was normal, or at least more normal, that barrel were browned/blacked as soon as possible to prevent rusting from handling and rusting because of a humid environment.

Stay inside as it must be quite hot at McLean today.