Lee-Metford Sparkbrook 1895 MKII* Rifle

[rayg]

Just a salty hand? This seems a bit worse than that.

Maybe, maybe not. Not if handled a number of time over the years and stored in a fairly humid area. The damage is isolated to just that area so something came in contact only there that caused the rust. Over time, the salt and moisture from a hand can cause some pretty bad rust on metal. I had a 03 Springfield that had isolated rust like that I assumed was caused that way. Either that or the muzzle was sticking out of a case and exposed to moisture were the rest of the rifle wasn't or possibly blood came in contact with the metal there. Anyway, we'll never know. Ray