Scarring/melting on bolt lugs?

[sir_n0thing]

Just got back from the range today with my Tikka T3 Lite in .270WIN. Was cleaning it and noticed a very strange scar on one of the bolt lugs. I swear I don't recall seeing that there before, though I suppose it's technically possible I somehow overlooked it when I bought the gun (it's used, bought at Cabella's).
See pictures attached here.
Any ideas what this is or how it came to be? It looks to me that the metal melted in that spot?

 

[RGPM1A]

Looks like an inspector stamp to me.

 

[sir_n0thing]

I suppose that's entirely possible!

 

[James K]

Beats me. It looks like it was cut out, not stamped in. The "letter" if that is what it is, does appear to be stamped and could be an inspection mark or hardness test. It might be of interest to write or e-mail the importer and/or the manufacturer and send along the photos.

Jim

 

[sir_n0thing]

Got this answer on another forum...

If you look at it from the left of the picture, (Or rotate the picture 90 degrees counter clockwise so it is standing up) it is very clearly a Crowned Lion stamp.
Which is the Finnish definitive final proof mark for smokeless powder firearms.

 

[Bogie]

Yeah - that's not really a "pressure" surface there... And I could see "certifying" a bolt... You -do- want to put grease on the backs of the bolt lugs to avoid galling... We've been playing here at the machine shop with a new blend... We'll probably have some for sale at Knob Creek.