What is it?

[Mike Brooks]

Appears to be made as a carbine. 11 1/2" swamped .38 cal rifled barrel,1.085 at the breech, .845 at the waist and .856 at the muzzle. Old Begian repurposed lock marked ? Bomburg looks to be original to the gun but much earlier to the gun. It has the same decoration at the tail as RCA #15. trigger pull is about 12". Where do you suppose this was made?













upload image

[mr. no gold]

Pure guessing here: Canada? A canoe gun?

[rich pierce]

America from old parts, about 1810-20 would be my guess.

[Pete G.]

I would guess a rifle damaged at the muzzle and cut short .

[Hungry Horse]

Single side screw, and some obviously repurposed parts, indicate it was built from repurposed parts.

  Hungry Horse

[WadePatton]

I would guess a rifle damaged at the muzzle and cut short .

I'm going with the general notion that the flare at the muzzle rules out a longer bbl cut off.  Perhaps a new bbl was made and everything else was repurposed.

I will say this and defend my position-it's not a match rifle.    Got any cast in it?   

[Mike Brooks]

I personally think it's a pistol barrel. The owner's family came to America 1856 from Denmark and immigrated to Davenport. It was picked up somewhere between the east coast and  Davenport and has been in the family ever since. They started a grocery store as soon as they arrived in Davenport.

[WESTbury]

Without seeing first hand, it is somewhat reminiscent of an English short barreled Coaching Gun or a Saddle Blanket Gun.

I've been wishing, during my past 50 years of collecting, that these things could talk.

[WKevinD]

I agree - a pistol barrel, repurposed.  That's what we decided on this one.








Kevin

[WadePatton]

I personally think it's a pistol barrel. The owner's family came to America 1856 from Denmark and immigrated to Davenport. It was picked up somewhere between the east coast and  Davenport and has been in the family ever since. They started a grocery store as soon as they arrived in Davenport.

Has the rate of twist been checked? 

[Mike Brooks]

I personally think it's a pistol barrel. The owner's family came to America 1856 from Denmark and immigrated to Davenport. It was picked up somewhere between the east coast and  Davenport and has been in the family ever since. They started a grocery store as soon as they arrived in Davenport.

Has the rate of twist been checked?

Nope.

[smokinbuck]

Had a friend with one similar to yours but in very good condition and with a saddle ring. Story was it was made for Confederate cavalry use