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I've found a used Merkel .470 online. The dealer sent me some pictures. Any idea what these marks are on the muzzle/crown?

Merkel Muzzle

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There's not a thing wrong with those muzzles. The chamfering is correct, and the polish marks look just right. The black marks are discoloration from firing - powder residue and nothing more.

Merkel has the practice of leaving the barrel wedge prominent. The finisher used a flat hone to polish the face of the muzzles. He first polished horizontally above and below the square wedge. Then he polished vertically to the left and to the right of the wedge. So in the final finish you will see vertical polish marks to the left and right with horizontal polish marks above and below the wedge. All are defined by the width and height of the prominent wedge.

The black marks will clean off with a bit of solvent and judicious rubbing.

To make you feel a little better I just pulled out the barrels to my Merkel .500NE. They are exactly the same, even to the point of having some powder residue. I know that mine has not been altered in any way, since I bought the rifle brand new.




A Merkel is a very well-made and serviceable rifle. They fit and handle well. They represent very good value in today's market.

Curl

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Thanks for your help. And while I certainly agree with your general comments about Merkels (based on what I know of them), I don't think we are seeing eye to eye on these muzzles (unless this is one of those "is the dress white & gold, or blue & black"? things!) because, to me, your muzzles look quite a bit different. And I've since had other dealers send me pics of the muzzles of their Merkels (new and used), and none of them have that mysterious line under the wedge connecting the 2 crowns. Are you saying that it came from the factory that way, because that's hard for me to believe. And again, the others I have seen were clean and bright like yours. Ultimately, there may not be anything wrong at all, but it looks odd.

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