Burn marks on barrel hook

[DrQ]

I have just bought my first shotgun. It`s a Browning 325 G1 Sporter & it cost £550. It`s not the prettiest 325, quite old with some scuffs on the action & it has had a few through it, but for a first gun, it`s more than perfect. The only thing that niggles me is the two square teeth on the barrel that fit into the two holes on the bottom of the action (I think they might be called the barrel hook?)have burn marks on them, so look like they have been heated to a very high temp, for some reason...? Does anyone have an idea why this would be?

 

Cheers

DrQ

Edited December 24, 2010 by DrQ

[Hornet 6]

Been built up with weld and re-fitted ?

Although that would be a strange way of tighening the action.

 

Neil.

Edited December 24, 2010 by Hornet 6

[arjimlad]

Residual bluing ?

[DrQ]

Been built up with weld and re-fitted ?

Although that would be a strange way of tighening the action.

 

Neil.

 

 

Hi Neil. Thanks for the reply.

There`s no welding to them, just burn marks... it is a little odd?

 

Q

[DrQ]

Residual bluing ?

 

Hi arjimlad. Thanks for your reply..... What`s Residual bluing & would bluing affect that part?

Edited December 24, 2010 by DrQ

[arjimlad]

It looks to me like those lumps may have been blued in the past, and it may have worn off somewhat with use. I hope it does not detract from your enjoyment of the gun.

[utectok]

Can't see a problem ? might be blued as per barrels

[DrQ]

Can't see a problem ? might be blued as per barrels

 

Hi utectok... Here`s another pic.... Could it just be bluing?

 

Q

[Scully]

Looks like it's been braised(heated up)to me,for some reason.Can the person you bought it from not tell you?I wouldn't let it bother you too much so long as it's tight and solid when both open and closed.

[Katash]

As Hornet 6 said it could have had this done to tighten the action

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69LeO9bYKdI&feature=related

 

I'm a **** welder and I can still make stuff look like its not been welded with enough filing and lapping.

Edited December 24, 2010 by Katash

[DrQ]

As Hornet 6 said it could have had this done to tighten the action

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69LeO9bYKdI&feature=related

 

I'm a **** welder and I can still make stuff look like its not been welded with enough filing and lapping.

 

Hi Katash... Thanks for your reply.

 

That looks like it doesn`t it...... is it a bad thing?

 

Q

Edited December 24, 2010 by DrQ

[Klunk]

Hi DrQ,

 

Looks like there might have been a bit of rework done at some point. Reason I say that is not so much because of the blueing, but because those rows of tiny indentations on the ends of the hooks (left one in picture is more apparent than right) look like vice marks to me. I can't see it having been shipped from the factory like that, although I suppose it's possible. I'm no gunsmith myself, note, but if I were to clamp them in a vice I'd first line the vice with soft jaws, i.e. some material softer than that I'm working on, to prevent these marks. If whoever did this didn't know to do that, or just didn't bother, then that might raise questions as to their competency.

It'll probably be fine, but it might be worth dropping it in at your local friendly gunsmith to get them to have a look over it, just to be absolutely sure. Probably worth it for peace of mind, as much as anything else?

 

Klunk out.

[DrQ]

Hi DrQ,

 

Looks like there might have been a bit of rework done at some point. Reason I say that is not so much because of the blueing, but because those rows of tiny indentations on the ends of the hooks (left one in picture is more apparent than right) look like vice marks to me. I can't see it having been shipped from the factory like that, although I suppose it's possible. I'm no gunsmith myself, note, but if I were to clamp them in a vice I'd first line the vice with soft jaws, i.e. some material softer than that I'm working on, to prevent these marks. If whoever did this didn't know to do that, or just didn't bother, then that might raise questions as to their competency.

It'll probably be fine, but it might be worth dropping it in at your local friendly gunsmith to get them to have a look over it, just to be absolutely sure. Probably worth it for peace of mind, as much as anything else?

 

Klunk out.

 

 

Cheers Klunk

 

Q

[Katash]

Its extremely unlikely those are vice marks in my opinion, a)they don't really look like vice marks to me and b)if somebody felt the need to DIY fix the hook themselves and did such a good job the weld cannot be seen its very strange they would not have used soft jaws.

 

Just my opinion mind.

 

DrQ, so long as the action is tight when closing I'd not worry, even the best guns become loose with age / wear so it seems the previous owner(s) obviously cared enough for the gun to have it professionally repaired.

 

Enjoy your first gun

[Vermincinerator]

Definately looks like someone has danced an oxy-acetylene torch on the area you can tell by the way the colour turns from blue to straw until it fades away.

Maybe someone has tried to temper the lug, it is quite possible it has come from the factory like this, polishing the lug after heat treatmant has been forgotten.

 

Ian.

[DrQ]

Its extremely unlikely those are vice marks in my opinion, a)they don't really look like vice marks to me and b)if somebody felt the need to DIY fix the hook themselves and did such a good job the weld cannot be seen its very strange they would not have used soft jaws.

 

Just my opinion mind.

 

DrQ, so long as the action is tight when closing I'd not worry, even the best guns become loose with age / wear so it seems the previous owner(s) obviously cared enough for the gun to have it professionally repaired.

 

Enjoy your first gun

 

Cheers Katash & have a very Happy Christmas

 

Q