I'll agree with Geo. Newbern that minor pitting is mostly cosmetic and probably best left alone. I think that once the source of the corrosion has been scrubbed out and kept protected with a good gun oil, it will not be like a cancer silently eating away at the metal. I understand that pressures will stress a pitted area more than the same area honed smooth, but reduced in thickness. But when it gets that iffy, it may be more prudent to retire the gun and save eyes and fingers. Geo. mentions worrying about slick shiny Damascus. I find it surprising how often many of these old barrels, that I would bet the farm never saw a hone, clean up to mirror finish or maybe no worse than small areas of minor frosting. I've bought 2 Damascus Baker barrels and a Meriden Damascus gun in the last two weeks. I was all but sure that all of them would have at least minor pitting, but all three were almost perfect with no more than a brass brush and solvent soaked patches. Steel that is mirror polished in the beginning has so much less surface area, microscopically speaking, than unpolished steel and it remains shiney with minimal care and protection. Also, study the bores of guns being sold by the guy who likes to "freshen" the appearance of junkers, and you'll soon be able to tell which barrels have been honed or cleaned up with emory on a dowel rod. How severely, of course, would require measuring.
Last edited by keith; 02/14/09 10:28 PM.
