I like the fixture idea, but it would have resulted in at least some splatter on the crown of the barrel.
You can buy crowning tools in various shapes, the idea is to true up the end of the barrel and rifling by removing a small amount of metal. The bluing around the barrel ends is way to perfect, so I suspect it is a function of the crowning process in conjunction with the ends being plugged during bluing.
Just a guess, I have nothing to back that idea up
Vern
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