Bresien barrel

[bob in the woods]

I have a 1 in straight oct. 32 inch long .54 cal  Bresien barrel.  I've had this for a few years, and was recently thinking about what I could build with it.  Not being into " Hawken" rifles  I was wondering about an English sporting rifle perhaps?
Any suggestions ?   Also, does anyone know what material he used for his barrels ?

[galamb]

Bob, can't help you with what it was built with, but if you aren't into Hawken's (and I consider the barrel you have a little short anyhow in that caliber for Hawken), an English sporting rifle (or deer park rifle) would be a good option for a barrel that length and caliber.

Here's a link to Julia's site with a 55 cal 27" bbl Joseph Manton flint rifle (somewhat unusual in that it is not a double) http://jamesdjulia.com/item/lot-1250-joseph-manton-flint-single-rifle-37720/

Alternately, you could build a Leman (or Henry) in either full or half-stock with it. I just find them a touch hard on the shoulder when you pull the trigger, which would be amplified with a 54 and a heavier charge.

[bob in the woods]

Thank you for that link. Nice rifle      One that I was thinking of is posted on the "Flintriflesmith" website.  as an English Short rifle. Suggested as a possible gamekeeper's rifle.

[galamb]

That "short rifle" reminded me quite a bit of the English (pattern) 1776 rifle - another option of similar style which used a full octagon barrel.

While the original was a 62 cal with 30.5" hooked breech barrel, you could make it "believable" with what you have.

[galamb]

P.S. - found an old post where Don Getz stated that he once asked Ken Bresien what steel he used for his barrels. The response was 12L14 and from an old article I found on his barrels, the twist should be 1:66.

[bob in the woods]

Thank you again.  English rifle it is. 

[Acer Saccharum]

Be aware that the gun in the photo above has a tapered and flared barrel. You won't get the same architecture with a straight barrel.

[bob in the woods]

Thank you Acer. I still lean towards something along the lines of the rifle on the Flintriflesmith website. It does not appear to have that severe a swamp .  One reason I asked about the material of construction. I could file a slight swamp without too much difficulty [ 32 in barrel] if it is actually 12L14  , but if it's anything like the barrel I'm working on now [ Rayle} ..forget it !

[Bob Roller]

Ken Bresien told me he used 12L14.The hard to file Ed Rayle barrel speaks well of Ed's
being cautious about material.He told me he used 8620 and I have made breeches from it
and didn't notice anything unusual about the way it behaved in a lathe or V mill.

Bob Roller

[Daryl]

Here's an English gun in curly maple, as per the order, that Taylor made some years back - with a straight, 1" .54, I believe.  Note single, set trigger.