Thanks for the kind words on the gun, the approval of your peers is more appreciated than you know. I will post a close up photo of the Griffin this weekend when my son who does such, is home.
On the subject of keeping the brass barrel clean, I was referencing the exterior, in the event one wanted to keep it bright an shiny. The bore cleaned up easily, although it was discolored. I think it will clean (inside) even easier after it has been shot a bit. I do not know the manufacturer of the barrel. I purchased it from a member of the board, and thought it was probably made by Ed Rayl, but it is not marked with Ed's stamp. The only marking on the bottom of the barrel was a hand engraved notation (Cal 52) .