The L.C. Smith Collectors Association

The L.C. Smith Collectors Association
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Punch Marks on BBL

Posted by Michael Tavary on September 6, 2025, 9:00 pm

This is an LC, Hunter Arms hammer 12 ga field grade with steel bbls.
It has a series of well-placed punch marks on the top of the right bbl near the breach.
Could these have come from the factory and what do they mean?

Attached are pictures. One is a view showing the action and the other is a close up with the marks circled.

Re: Punch Marks on BBL

Posted by Drew Hause on September 7, 2025, 7:38 am, in reply to "Punch Marks on BBL"

The gun is very off-face and the marks are from an 'inexpert' attempt to tighten the gun.

Another technique

Re: Punch Marks on BBL

Posted by Drew Hause on September 7, 2025, 8:20 am, in reply to "Punch Marks on BBL"

Another

Re: Punch Marks on BBL

Posted by Drew Hause on September 7, 2025, 9:03 am, in reply to "Re: Punch Marks on BBL"

Hammering the hook doesn't work so good either

Re: Punch Marks on BBL

Posted by Michael Tavary on September 11, 2025, 10:27 am, in reply to "Re: Punch Marks on BBL"

The punch marks on this LC are too light and in the wrong place to tighten anything.
Also, they are in a well-ordered pattern.

Re: Punch Marks on BBL

Posted by Bill Bianchetto on September 27, 2025, 6:10 pm, in reply to "Re: Punch Marks on BBL"

To me, those look like a pattern left by a vise.

Re: Punch Marks on BBL

Posted by Dan Wildhaber on September 27, 2025, 6:18 pm, in reply to "Re: Punch Marks on BBL"

Someone keeping track of how much game they bagged?

As you noted, it isn't in a location that would tighten up the action, but it's obviously not anything the factory did.

Re: Punch Marks on BBL

Posted by Michael Tavary on October 7, 2025, 11:27 pm, in reply to "Re: Punch Marks on BBL"

Thank you all for your input!
Mike

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