Question on "chalk" found in rifling grooves of Pre-27

[rom141]

Look for faint imprints of a cartridge on the recoil shield. Sometimes you have to look at an angle with bright daylight or a small flashlight. Also look for residue in places that as hard to clean, like around the forcing cone, gas ring...

That's the thing, the darn thing has 100% of all bluing intact, and I cant find evidence of anything around the firing pin, forcing cone, or in the recesses of the cylinder. I have a borescope I use for my bee hives that I also use on my revolvers (it is lighted), and it usually tells the true story, but I'm hard pressed to find any evidence of use on this thing except for the smallest of clues. There is ever so slightly a hint of a turn ring on the cylinder, but that's about it. I am mostly a shooter, but this beauty is changing my mind.

 

[PeteC]

That's the thing, the darn thing has 100% of all bluing intact, and I cant find evidence of anything around the firing pin, forcing cone, or in the recesses of the cylinder. I have a borescope I use for my bee hives that I also use on my revolvers (it is lighted), and it usually tells the true story, but I'm hard pressed to find any evidence of use on this thing except for the smallest of clues. There is ever so slightly a hint of a turn ring on the cylinder, but that's about it. I am mostly a shooter, but this beauty is changing my mind.

In that case back to the other theory by gwpercle, some kind of grease or bore protectant dried out over the years. Or, it could be fairy dust... they all think they can just come out on Halloween, and nobody will notice...

Congrats on what sounds like an awesome acquisition, I am duly envious and looking forward to some pics!

 

[smoothshooter]

If not lead oxide, it could be residue from shooting tactical training ammo called " Simunitions ".
It is/was handgun ammo that had a bullet that had a thin semi-transparent plastic shell filled with chalk dust. Was intended to be used for military and law enforcement people to shoot each other with in training scenarios. It was relatively safe to use as long as the recipient was wearing a light ballistic vest or medium heavy clothing. If a shot went a little astray and hit someone in an unprotected area it could be quite painful, I was told.
The only examples I have ever seen were from 20+ years ago and the chalk dust was kind of a pinkish red color. Don't know if other colors such as white were ever used. Seems like the examples I saw were in .38 Special, but other calibers may have been made. I would think they would be for revolvers only because they might not have the recoil impulse to cycle an automatic unless one was willing to work the slide by hand for each shot.
The chalk made a good sized high-visibility splash on the target.
Do not know if they are still made.

 

[rom141]

That's interesting info. I didn't mention it because it was very slight, but I originally thought that the chalk had a bit of tinge to it. Not enough to call it red or even pink really, but I just assumed it was the lighting in my shop that was making it look a bit "colored". More towards the red end of the spectrum than blue is I guess what I mean. Its interesting. If it wasn't so clean and unused looking I don't think I would care that much, but I am now wishing I could know its past and what it has (or has not) seen. Guess I just need to put it in a pretty box and admire it for its mystery. Or maybe take it out and put some serious rounds through it like it was intended for