A close look at the pictures posted by Pete shows the grooves to be machine made. One picture shows the grooving running over proof type marks.
John is right on the deep etching on some barrels from Europe, but these are machine grooved. I have not seen an example before.
Daryl,
I agree it was machine etched.
GUSTAAY ADOLF SACHS
Lived in the Dakota territories, then moved to Eugene Oregon.
Patent 353432 - BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARM
There was also:
WILLIAM ROSE of Halesowen, England
410,678 - IMPROVEMENT IN THE QUALITY AND ORNAMENTATION OF METALS
Issue date: Jul 7, 1863
http://www.google.com/patents?id=jQsAAAA...e+39174#PPP2,M1 I am thinking this may be an American example of the Sachs patent in use. The marks on the barrels are the only thing that keep me from being sure. Or did the maker start out with French tubes and then etch them? So many questions...
Pete
