Top of semiauto barrel ground -- why?

[Nathaniel Firethorn]

Hi, all,

I recently bought a parts kit for a HK USP .45 on Gunbroker. According to the seller, it was seized by law enforcement, but "not used to kill anybody." (Whew!)

But the puzzling thing is the barrel. It looks OK, except that the top has been ground a bit -- and it looks like it's been done by an expert. Not the wierd jeweled finish, and just the top of the flat part next to the chamber.

Any idea why a smith would do this?

Thanx,
- pdmoderator

 

[Jim V]

Ok, you said it was seized by a police department at one point, perhaps the department engraved the case number/evidence tag number on the barrel. If so, would you want to have a barrel marked WEPD (West Elbow PD) 01-12343, on the chamber?

Only my guess, however.

 

[Blackhawk]

Jim's guess is a good one, but I don't see why anybody would bother removing the marks.

A smith might have done that for slide clearance at full rearward travel.

 

[boing]

Perhaps the sellers info is a little off, and the gun was a previously issued LEO sidearm, with department info on the barrel?

There was a batch of P7s released onto the civilian market that had something similar, but with marks removed from the slide or frame. I don't know if any dept. markings would appear on the barrel, though?

Maybe they busted a guy for Cruel and Unusual Dremeling of an HK.