While this can vary from tube manufacturer to tube manufacturer, one end is usually stamped with the make, tubeset and wall thickness/gauge. This allows the manufacturer to quickly know if he has selected the proper tube without the need to measure the wall thickness.

Also, many tubes are provided in one standard size, to accommodate the largest, common frame size. These tubes are then cut to the required length by the framebuilder. In order to accomodate a range of sizes, one end must have a very long butt, so that a suitable butt length still remains even after cutting for the smallest frame size. In the case of Reynolds, the stamping is at the end with the short butt and therefore the builder knows he must cut the tube to length at the opposite end.