"I JUST acquired a .22 Hornet after looking for many moons. It's in almost unbelievable condition, probably because the extractor is broken and somebody silly just set the barrel aside for a few decades. I have been wanting a Utica barrel, and this is only the 2nd of that type that I have seen that appears to be factory D&T'd on top of the receiver. Can you confirm that they did this? I mean, it certainly looks factory, and even has perfectly fitted plug screws, the bluing on which is perfectly uniform with the barrel. I already had Weaver #12 and 30, and they went on perfectly." Quote from above.
I have not seen any 219 barrel D&T on top,that I thought was factory work. But....I have never given the idea any thought either. All the early barrels I have seen have the writing on the left hand side of the barrel over the chamber, so the barrels are blank on top. Because of this, I don't know how, without a factory letter, this could be determined as factory work. As I understand it, you purchased a barrel only, not a complete gun, is that correct? Please correct me if I am wrong. So without a serial number on the frame, you can't get a factory letter to verify. (Also, for various reasons, having a serial number, does not guarantee the factory letter will verify anything. (I am sure their historians is doing the best they can, but since Mr. Callahan retired, the information does not compare to Win., Colt, & S&W) I have 2 barrels in my collection, and have seen less than a dozen rifle barrels, D&T on the side of the barrel that I feel confident in saying they are original factory work, as the normal left hand writing is moved to the top of the barrel so no holes will be drilled thru this writing. I hope this will help some. Best wishes, Garnett