straight barrels on Mountain rifles

[leviathan]

Were any straight barrels used on S. Mountain rifles and if so when did they start to be used ? Thanks for all the help you guys give me!!

[WadePatton]

It's my understanding (at this point in time) that hand-forged (iron) bbls were nearly always swamped to some degree, and that modern steel mfging gave rise to the straight bbl. 

[galamb]

"Southern Mountain" is one of those terms (modern by the way) that always leaves me a little puzzled.

What do you consider "Southern Mountain" - Virginia??

If so then straight barrels were used in the first couple decades of the 1800's because they had "ready access" to barrels being produced "somewhere else" other than their shop/town.

If you are talking about the wilds of Tennessee then maybe not so.

[halfstock]

By today's standards the hand forged barrels might not be considered swamped, the older ones might only be 1/16to 1/8 difference, not sure if any modern makers are now making in that slight difference or not.