Re: Painted Barrel
Smith guns with fluid steel barrels were always marked by steel type (Armor, Royal, London, Crown, Nitro, etc.) either on top of the barrels (post-1913); or on pre-1913 vintage Smiths, the bottoms of the barrels just ahead of the barrel flats (highest grades Smith guns with Whitworth steel barrels most often featured the words Whitworth Steel engraved atop the barrels or on the top rib). Composite barrel steel type (Damascus, twist, Chain, etc.) used for Smith gun barrels were never marked/identified on Smith gun barrels or barrel flats; so the simple rule of thumb to remember is that Smith fluid steel barrel type (quality) is always identified somewhere on a Smith gun, while Damascus (composite steel) barrel type/quality is NEVER identified on a Smith gun; that determination must be made visually.
|