When I first saved and enlarged the photos I only gave them a cursory glance before making my post, but after reading some of the other posts, and after viewing the pics again, I've noticed some other things. Cannonmn is right, the designs on the barrel are punched, or engraved, not raised (at least not raised the way I originally meant). All of the swirled marks (maybe representing fire?) that are punched in the iron from the breech ring on down the 1st reinforce taken as a whole, form the image of a latin cross. I had this thought originally, but didn't voice it because the round shape on the chase could also be taken as a flower, or the sun with its radiating rays of light, but now I think it represents the Blessed Sacrament/Eucharist, or perhaps a monstrance (a receptacle used to display the Host) used in some forms of the Catholic Mass. It's an odd piece!
