[Yosemite Sam]

We had a similar discussion a week or so ago...

My best guess is that in order to get the head to set flat on the mill table, they had to clamp it gasket surface down and mill the top (fin side) first. After the fins were milled flat the head could then be turned over and clamped (gasket surface up) for milling.

As I suggested in the earlier post, without a proper fixture, I have no idea how you would clamp a head for milling. It would be nearly impossible to clamp a head in the vice and get it perfectly flat with the mill. This is the reason I sand my heads instead of milling them.

I would be VERY unhappy with the head in your pictures.