doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Problem with barrels after refinishing

I recently had some Fox barrels reblued by a metal finisher. The barrels were equipped with an ivory bead sight, which they removed, lost, and then claimed never existed. The bead was a pressed-in style sight. The barrels now make a slight rattling sound near the bores when tapped. Although not visibly evident, I'm guessing a rib is loose. Is the removal of a bead enough to cause this? Also, generally speaking, what level of repair might be involved by a competent gunsmith?

If the barrels were hot blued instead of rust blued the rib may have come loose and be causing the rattle noise the barrels may have already been loose just not as noticeable with the front bead installed.

If the barrels were properly rust blued it is doubtful that the ribs have come loose but to check for looseness support the barrels from the barrel hook and lightly tap or flick the barrels with a finger nail all along the each side of the barrels. If the barrels ring like chimes the ribs are tight, if they produce a dull thud they have or are coming loose. The sound emanating from inside the barrels is most likely caused by a bit of solder which has come loose and is banging about inside the rib or part of teh missing bead. Brownells and Galazan sell replacement press in beads.

Ribbs might need resodered and a new bead pressed in.

The barrels were rust blued so we are fine there. They do not ring like a chime but at the same time they don't make a thud sound anywhere. The vibrating noise happens when tapped at the bore end.

The rattle could be anything from the stub of the old bead, solder balls (a technical term), or actually loose ribs. Internet diagnosis of "a slight rattling sound" is pretty "iffy".

Best way I know to find a delaminated rib is to leak check the solder joints with soapy water and a few psi of air.

Even then an air leak does not a loose rib make...plenty of good ribs have small voids in the solder that would leak air....Id bet its solder balls that were not moving b4 all that boiling or the base of the old front site if the rib is tapped all the way through.....fill the void in the rib [through the weep hole] with a heavy oil letting it flow all the way to the muzzel....then let it drain back out through the same hole.....this should stop the rattle for the forseable future and also help prevent any rust that might form under the rib...

Sounds to me like your bead or part of its now in the ribs.

Sometimes the extractor/ejectors will rattle. While the hook is on you finger, when ringing the barrels; rest your thumb on the extractor and see what happens.

kilibru:
As I see it, you have three choices:(1) live with the rattle (2) send your barrels back to the "well known refinisher" and demand they do the job right (good luck) or (3) send the barrels to a true professional and have the ribs opened, joint flushed and cleaned, and ribs relaid. Sadly, experience is often a heartless and expensive teacher.

There is a certain "well-known refinisher" in that part of the world who is famous for the problems you describe.

Best, Kensal