Would you use an original gun barrel to build a new gun ?

[Trapper1993]

I have this minty looking belgian fowler barrel I would like to use to make a new fowler. I have the original stock and furniture and the wood is in good shape but its breaking off in the fore end. Its missing the lock as well. The bore looks alright and the breach looks fairly rusty but im sure some evaporust and a brass brush will clean it up. I stupidly left it in evaporust solution too long which is why half the barrel is grey and the other half is browned. The only issues with the barrel is minor pitting around the nipple and that the nipple is stuck on and may need to be sawed off, drilled out and rethreaded.

 

[Trapper1993]

 

[Rudyard]

Well it looks like a beater anyway so why not if its still in proof .
Rudyard

 

[rich pierce]

I have this minty looking belgian fowler barrel I would like to use to make a new fowler. I have the original stock and furniture and the wood is in good shape but its breaking off in the fore end. Its missing the lock as well. The bore looks alright and the breach looks fairly rusty but im sure some evaporust and a brass brush will clean it up. I stupidly left it in evaporust solution too long which is why half the barrel is grey and the other half is browned. The only issues with the barrel is minor pitting around the nipple and that the nipple is stuck on and may need to be sawed off, drilled out and rethreaded.

View attachment 267450View attachment 267451View attachment 267452View attachment 267453View attachment 267454View attachment 267455View attachment 267456View attachment 267457View attachment 267458

The bolster and nipple seat would be my areas of concern. I’d re-proof it. I know that’s a position not all would take.

 

[oreclan]

Nope.

 

[PathfinderNC]

Putting all the work, time and money into a new build, I would go with a better barrel, personally.

 

[Rob M.]

Would I use an original barrel to build a gun ? Sure , have a few times and I have two original barrels , one 160 yrs. old and another 180 yrs. old , just waiting their turn to be made into a N.W. trade gun . Just check out the barrel condition thoroughly , bore condition , pits esp. and the breech . Most the time , in my limited experience with original barrels the course thread breech is worn out and dangerous . Each original barrel I have reused ive rebreeched , rethread barrel and modern fine thread breech plug . Sure is a cool resurrecting an original barrel and shooting it . Many times the Muzzle needs cut off too , too thin .... Any who , best of luck

 

[Rob M.]

That barrel looks great ! I'd love to cut that breech off and make a flintlock trade gun out of it ! LOL ! Very sharp ...very clean looking ! Careful , mercury fulminate was rough on drums , breeches , etc. ...best of luck

 

[Davey Boy]

Absolutely I would

 

[oldwood]

Make sure you proof the barrel before you even consider using it in a build. The bore needs an emory cloth treatment. This can be done by using a 3/8 " steel rod , with a 3/8 " slot sawed into the end , cut some 200 grit emory cloth in 2" x 4" sheets , slip a sheet into the slot sawed in the rod , put the rod into a drill motor , and stick the Emory cloth rig into the bore and enerise the drill motor. Change the emory cloth often , as it will clog up. After the bore is starting to clean up , switch to 400 grit emory. I've done a couple successfully with this method. A small flashlite is good enough to look down the barrel to heck on progress.

 

[IanH]

I'd try to pull that ball out before I did too much more with it.

 

[Trapper1993]

Make sure you proof the barrel before you even consider using it in a build. The bore needs an emory cloth treatment. This can be done by using a 3/8 " steel rod , with a 3/8 " slot sawed into the end , cut some 200 grit emory cloth in 2" x 4" sheets , slip a sheet into the slot sawed in the rod , put the rod into a drill motor , and stick the Emory cloth rig into the bore and enerise the drill motor. Change the emory cloth often , as it will clog up. After the bore is starting to clean up , switch to 400 grit emory. I've done a couple successfully with this method. A small flashlite is good enough to look down the barrel to heck on progress.

good idea. ill definitely proof this before i do anything with this. i'll be sure to clean the bore of any rust to make sure there arent any hidden cracks as well

 

[oldwood]

To the original question , would I use an original barrel to build a new gun? Yes , did that. Went to a flea mkt. on the way to work. A dealer of fleas , had an original cast steel barrel blank , circa . guessing post 1820. Was breach threaded , and exterior octagon for the first 9 " then straight round 1 1/16 " to the muzzle. Total length was 40 ". The bore was rough bored to .40 cal. . I always wanted an experimental .50 cal. bench gun , so sent the barrel to Ed Rayle , the barrel maker in Gasaway , W. Va.. He bored the barrel out to .50 , with twist of 1 turn in 60 ". I built a Lehigh Valley gun with the old barrel using a stock reproduced by Fred Miller , from the Reaves Goering collection , original rifle. ...........oldwood

 

[Colonial Boy]

Oldwood,
Have you got a picture, that sounds an interesting one?

 

[oldwood]

So sorry , since we have no cell svc. here , I don't own a phone that takes photo's.

 

[Rob M.]

In the pic ... A new barrel , silver , and then an original 20 ga. English barrel , circa 1830-1840 , 36" given to me by gunbuilder Ken Netting .... Gonna make me a kick @$$ N.W. gun outta it for me !

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

I'd have hoyt ream it. I'd breech it up for flint and use it.

 

[64Springer]

That's what old barrels are for.

Old as dirt 20ga.

1.224 breech.

 

[sheriff john]

Did that using an old musket barrel. Works fine but it's really ugly. One of my first projects. Still have a 42" fowler barrel left - probably too old to start another. Go for it.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Absolutely. That would be a neat fun project as long as it is safe.