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I had a fun opportunity to visit Campus Martius in Marietta Ohio. Campus Martius is the birthplace of 18th century settlement in Ohio in 1788. Among the many, many original items that were 18th century, and many used within the Campus Martius stockade, there was a nice display of rifles. These weren't there as all were percussion except one original flinter on display (standing in the left corner of the display case). Many of these rifles were made between the late 1830's through the 1850's by Caleb Vincent, a famous Ohio gunmaker. I examined the ends of every barrel closely. There was one rifle that was probably .44 caliber and another octagon to round smootbored gun that was .54 to 58 caliber. Every other rifle in that display case was no larger than 40 caliber. (Having owned several 40's and shot a .40 for the last 20 years, I can spot a .40 a mile away). That means 20 of those guns were all near or about 40 caliber. I find it surprising that .40 caliber was the dominant caliber for all rifles in the early 19th century. So here is my question ... It is possible that the makers of these rifles had only one rifling machine and one wooden barrel twist rifling guide and only one mandrel of .40 caliber, thus making every gun based on that size of .40 caliber mandrel and cutters because they were unable to make any other size ??
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