A gun that has failed proof or become out of proof may have the marks "barred out" by the proof house so that the gun can be retuned to its owner ,as there is no law against owning or using an out of or unproofed gun . That is the responsibility of the owner . Barred out marks indicate that the guns is out of proofed and therfore can not be offerd for sale . Cut barrels are the only way an out of proof gun can be legaly sold allowing for the gun to be sleeved at some future date . There is also a case though rare when some older marks are barred out on submission for reproof , If for instance a old 3 inch gun had been sleeved and was rechambered at 2&3/4" the old 3" would be barred out to avoid confusion .
