Barrel Length Question

[Muleskinner]

If one were having a Late Lancaster 40 cal flintlock built would there be a correct barrel length ? or is it just personal preference,barrel in question will be 13/16"

[wvmtnman]

I'm no expert, but I would have something in the 42 inch range.  A 13/16 barrel may be on the small side though.  You may want to look into a tapered or swamped barrel.
                                                                                   Brian

[JTR]

Hey Mule,
I have a typical late Lancaster rifle with a checkered wrist made by Casper Fordney.
The barrel is 43" long, and about 44 cal. It's swamped a bit, and measures .940" at the breech, .880 at the waist, and .900 at the muzzle. It picks up and shoulders well, and isn't heavy at the muzzle.
John

[A.Merrill]

    You may want to think about barrel weight. A swamped barrel in 40cal. 42in. or 44in. is lighter in weight than a 40cal. 13/16 straight octagon in 42in. Go to trackofthewolf.com, they give barrel weight to all their barrels. Good Luck    AL

[Muleskinner]

I will have a look at those weights......thanks for the info everyone.....anyone else have thoughts on this?

[keweenaw]

Even the later Lancaster guns have good sized butt stocks.  When I'm looking thought books with pictures of lots or originals, like Kindig, the guns with barrels shorter than about 42" look short  and if you examine them carefully it's obvious that many of them were cut back.  The late Huntingdon Co. guns, with their very small butts, look correctly proportioned with barrels as short as 38."  That said, there are exceptions in Lancaster guns that look fine with barrels in the 40" range.  It all depends on the general stock architecture.

Tom