Went to a local gun show today. Saw a nice flintlock smooth rifle that the seller said was dated 1877. The top of the barrel flat just forward of the rear sight had the date "dot punched" in the flat. It looked newer than the rest of the finish on the gun. The edges created by the round punch had also been smoothed. Maybe they were shinier because the craters of the dots were still slightly raised. Anyone seen this on other original rifles? Also saw two cans of Dupont for sale. That was a surprise. Another vendor had a half dozen reproduction smoothbore flinters for sale as well. Not bad for a small town gun show.
