marking caliber on barrel

[cowboy924]

Hi all,
I just received a new prechambered and threaded Shilen barrel and it doesn't have the caliber (or anything else) marked on the side of the barrel. It is marked on the chamber end of the barrel. Even though I will be the only one using this gun, it just doesn't seem safe to not have it visibly marked what caliber it is.
My question is, will it hurt anything to stamp the caliber on the side of the barrel now? I assume that is how the manufacturers do it, ie not stamped before they are bored, rifled, stress relieved, chambered... etc.

Thanks in advance,
Luke

 

[colliers_customs]

nope it wont hurt a thing knock yourself out.

Jake

 

[fdshuster]

Luke: I'm like you: I want to see ident markings on the barrel. I insist on cartridge, twist, and chamber neck dia. and barrel maker. One of my gunsmith's does not do the ident himself, but has a local jeweler do the engraving. The other 'smith has his own engraving machine. You can probably "do your own", but may have a difficult time keeping all letters/numbers lined up in a nice straight line.

 

[CJ6]

A local awards company has a laser etcher. Pick which ever font/script that you want looks great.

 

[Robert]

A local awards company has a laser etcher. Pick which ever font/script that you want looks great.

Or the old method of scroch engarvig pantohgraph oe CNC, as Laser does not always works that well on steels.... In both cases, forget about the stress..
Robert

 

[cowboy924]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I didn't think it would hurt anything, just wanted to check with more experienced people than me before I took the hammer and stamps to a new barrel. I'm not real concerned with how pretty it looks but the laser engraving would look cool.
Thanks again,
Luke

 

[fdshuster]

Luke: Call this barrel ident, part two. A few years ago, Bill Calfee did an article in "Precision Shooting" magazine, (too long ago for me to recall the exact issue), but in it he related that he had checked the interior dimensions (air-gaged?) of several Anschutz 22 rimfire match barrels, and found the bore diameter(s) to be tighter directly under the factory ident stamping. The gist of the article was that he thought it was a possibility stamping could change the bore diameter. ???

 

[cowboy924]

Frank, Thanks for the additional info. That is exactly what I was concerned about. My varmint contour barrel should be quite a bit heavier than a rimfire barrel. It doesn't seem like a light rap with a hammer and punch could change the bore dia. but who knows...
On the other hand, I am guessing that barrel manufacturers stamp their barrels as one of the last steps, so I shouldn't be any worse off than they are.

 

[gamma]

Ive just recently purchased a very good piece of kit for precisely that job. Its a lectroetch, it works by electrochemically etching a very precise and incredibly detailed logo, number or picture onto your barrel, action or anything else thats metal. Give Britt a call at Lectroetch, you'll find them if you do a web search, very helpfull guy, he'll point you in the right direction and help you with the right kit needed for the job.

 

[FBecigneul]

I'll take a wild guess and say you are in Texas as your name is "Cowboy". Here in Michigan I have a New Hermes engraver and could do your barrel for next to nothing. What do you say? I have the jig for holdong the barrel and the job comes out A-One.

 

[butchlambert]

Hope the 924 isn't about the old VW that they called a Porsche. Francis is trustworthy to do a good job on your barrel.
Butch

 

[cowboy924]

Thanks for the replies and the offers for engraving but I think I am just going to try marking with my punch set (and a SMALL hammer).
Sorry Francis and Butch but you are both wrong. I am from MN (who knew there were any cowboys from MN right?) and 924 is my birthday.
Thanks again,
Luke

 

[TRECustom]

Cowboy, I have stamped a few and have got a few engraved at a place that does trophys, etc. I like the looks of the engraved I. D. best. On most cartridges, if you stamp on the shank of the barrel, you'll be over the chamber area and have no effect on the rifling.

Tom

 

[flatlander]

From your initial post, it's unclear whether you've got the barrel installed on your action yet. If you've got it torqued into your action, and know where the stock line is, do yourself a favor and call around to find a jewelry or trophy shop that will use a pantograph like the New Hermes to engrave the chambering on the barrel - the only way I'd use letter stamps on a barrel of mine would be if I were sure the markings would wind up hidden under the stock.

 

[kend]

It was my understanding that Federal Law requires the caliber to be marked on it, anyone else heard this?

 

[butchlambert]

NO

 

[US Handgunner]

Ive just recently purchased a very good piece of kit for precisely that job. Its a lectroetch, it works by electrochemically etching a very precise and incredibly detailed logo, number or picture onto your barrel, action or anything else thats metal. Give Britt a call at Lectroetch, you'll find them if you do a web search, very helpfull guy, he'll point you in the right direction and help you with the right kit needed for the job.

I'm heading there today to check out the 10 and 15 amp unit. I will let you know how things turn out.

Which unit do you have?

Mark