First of all, for those of you who didn't see my first thread, I WELCOME all opinions and lessons learned from experience.
The most perplexing thing is that the rest of the barrels, I mean the entire length and circumference, is slick and smooth, beautiful condition.
The other perplexing thing is that I just bought this gun sight unseen from a very honest gentleman I've done business with in the past. I'll bet dollars to donuts he didn't see these pits, just as I myself didn't see them at first, not until I looked the gun over more thoroughly a couple hours after unpacking and putting it together.
I love the gun, but I can't say I love this mess so close to the breech. The gun is a high grade top 5 British make and I paid a sizeable amount but actually a steal for a gun of this make. Of course, all of this is true WITHOUT the presence of those troubling pits.
I don't like to call them pits because to me, pits occur from rust and/or decay from something else. I maintain that the barrel was hurt in a fall or accident of some kind and what is there now is evidence of someone trying to fix the harm.
I'd love to keep it, but I honestly can't say how much it would cost to make it safe, or at lease safer than it looks now. And I admit, with a low load (this is a muzzleloader for those who came in late) it might even be safe as it is now. But I sure as hell value my fingers too much to just go ahead on a hunch!
Again, please chime in with opinions, thoughts, experience etc. concerning possible fixes..
EDIT: Forgot to say a big THANKS to all who have contributed thus far.
