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- Thread starter trwdrk
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It's simply part of a roll die system, it was called a 'foot'.
On hand operated roll die operations where the die was imprinting lines of small lettering or numbers, a 'foot' was generally added at the front and end of the line. This let the die land on the metal and escape it at the end of the roll with a 'foot'.
That avoided the common problem of a very deep initial & final imprint if the die is made w/o these.
A foot can also be found in a longer blank space between lettering to avoid the same problem. It just supports the die traveling accross the open space so it maintains it's level and again avoids an overly deep initial impression when it starts imprinting the lettering again.
The foot can be anything,,a bar, star, star burst design, cross, anything the die designer decides.
Winchester bbl lettering from the hand op roll die machine era usually had a simple heavy line/bar preceding and after the lettering lines.
Don't read too much if anything into them as far as a hidden meaning.
These are all obsolete by modern standards of computer controlled roll die impressions. Impression depth and placement is strictly controlled throughout by machine now and the hand operation is limited to perhaps placing and removing the part from the jig in between operations. Even the latter may be robotic now.
But the 'foot' may still be incorporated in a roll die for decorative purposes anyway. Many former die imprint operations are going to laser marking and other quicker and less expensive methods.
On hand operated roll die operations where the die was imprinting lines of small lettering or numbers, a 'foot' was generally added at the front and end of the line. This let the die land on the metal and escape it at the end of the roll with a 'foot'.
That avoided the common problem of a very deep initial & final imprint if the die is made w/o these.
A foot can also be found in a longer blank space between lettering to avoid the same problem. It just supports the die traveling accross the open space so it maintains it's level and again avoids an overly deep initial impression when it starts imprinting the lettering again.
The foot can be anything,,a bar, star, star burst design, cross, anything the die designer decides.
Winchester bbl lettering from the hand op roll die machine era usually had a simple heavy line/bar preceding and after the lettering lines.
Don't read too much if anything into them as far as a hidden meaning.
These are all obsolete by modern standards of computer controlled roll die impressions. Impression depth and placement is strictly controlled throughout by machine now and the hand operation is limited to perhaps placing and removing the part from the jig in between operations. Even the latter may be robotic now.
But the 'foot' may still be incorporated in a roll die for decorative purposes anyway. Many former die imprint operations are going to laser marking and other quicker and less expensive methods.
DWalt
Member
Some call it a "Dingbat"
Dingbats: these are marks similar to an iron cross at the beginning and end of some roll marks on the barrel and are the particular type of "typographical ornamentation" S&W chose to use as a "foot".
Seen on early pre WW I guns, they disappear during the 1920s on most models. The little M frame .22 has them on both ends of the cartridge roll stamp, I frames had them on both barrel roll marks, .44 Triple locks and other models have them atop the barrel at the ends of the address and patent dates, etc.
They made a limited post war appearance on a few models and the latest gun I own, with them on the cartridge roll mark, is my Mod 41 from 1971, it has dingbats on the caliber line.
The different styles are shown in this thread up to as late as 1973:
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...480-smith-wesson-ding-bats.html#post138350388
See this photo in post #4 here: http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-hand-ejectors-1896-1961/273157-32-long-ctg-help-id.html
IRON CROSS like dingbats: read about here: Typography - 46 Cool & Useful Dingbat Fonts | Think Design
Seen on early pre WW I guns, they disappear during the 1920s on most models. The little M frame .22 has them on both ends of the cartridge roll stamp, I frames had them on both barrel roll marks, .44 Triple locks and other models have them atop the barrel at the ends of the address and patent dates, etc.
They made a limited post war appearance on a few models and the latest gun I own, with them on the cartridge roll mark, is my Mod 41 from 1971, it has dingbats on the caliber line.
The different styles are shown in this thread up to as late as 1973:
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...480-smith-wesson-ding-bats.html#post138350388
See this photo in post #4 here: http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-hand-ejectors-1896-1961/273157-32-long-ctg-help-id.html
IRON CROSS like dingbats: read about here: Typography - 46 Cool & Useful Dingbat Fonts | Think Design
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The "dingbat" reappeared in the mid 70's and continued in to the early 80's (I believe). I was born in 76, so I was very young.
She was a wonderful women, very sweet and nice. Worked very hard. Her husband, was hard working as well. Very simple in nature and simple minded. Not really sure when she stopped appearing.
But one things for sure, I ended up marrying another version of the "dingbat". She too is very sweet and hard working, and I cherish everything about her.
I suppose it's just "all in the family"
Bob
She was a wonderful women, very sweet and nice. Worked very hard. Her husband, was hard working as well. Very simple in nature and simple minded. Not really sure when she stopped appearing.
But one things for sure, I ended up marrying another version of the "dingbat". She too is very sweet and hard working, and I cherish everything about her.
I suppose it's just "all in the family"
Bob
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