I learned that from a great craftsman (Sam Elliott) back about 1968...
Take a piece of steel measuring tape long enough and tape it to the barrel with masking tape by each end with one edge tight to the barrel. This edge tight to the barrel will be where you place the edge of the letter when stamping...
The barrel has to be held firmly in a vise.
I am right eyed and right handed... I stamp the last letter first and work back... when that last letter is stamped I sight down the right edge of the next stamp lining the edge up with the letter that is already stamped in the barrel. When lined up well and held square and on the edge of the steel tape give it a good whack with the hammer... continue backwards until they are all done... you can re stamp deeper as required using the imprint to locate the stamp without the steel tape. The letter "I" or the number "1" are the only stamps that needs to be crowded a bit by the letter on each side of it, otherwise the spacing would look large.
Polish the stamping with 240 grit like polishing shoes with a rag... re stamp and re polish until you are happy.
One drink is too many...
Practice this on some old barrels... it doesn't take long to get on to it...
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