What are these small holes in my model 16 barrel? Is this a flawed barrel?

[Lee Robinson]

I just got this gun...which is a 243 savage model 16. It is a unique rifle in that this model 16 has a fluted stainless barrel and a wooden stock, which I haven't seen before so I picked it up and I like the rifle.

I bought the gun sight unseen, and upon receiving the gun I noticed these small holes in the barrel right in front of the barrel nut, where the barrel screws into the action...lining up right at the outer edge of the barrel nut. Anyway, what is the deal with these holes. They are actually in the barrel itself and appear to be a flaw...appearing to be a cavity in the steel. I have never seen something like this before. If so, I obviously need to send it to the factory for them to take care of this...but before I get concerned I wanted to be sure these little holes are not there for some reason. Ever seen this before?

[Luckyducker]

I am not intimately familiar with the model 16/116 series Savage rifles but it looks to me like the collar nut is an after market product, and maybe the wrench that was used to install it made the marks on the barrel.  Whatever caused them doesn't matter from my perspective, as I don't consider Savage rifles to be eye candy anyway.   I think their beauty lies in their accuracy, as every Savage bolt rifle I have seen in that was built in the last several years has been very accurate. 

[Lee Robinson]

I finally heard back from Savage on the matter, and they say it is yet another barrel stamp...and are sure about it.  I have seen barrel stamps on a rifle before, but never three (there are 2 others on the other side that are completely visible and they are not as deep at the partially hidden one that concerned me).

[Ex 49'er]

My dealer had one of those Stainless, Fluted Model 16 Savage's in .308. He ordered me one in .223 and another for the store. It's an accurate son of a gun. He said it was an un-cataloged special run from Savage.