The forgotten barrel, or, what am I gonna do with this?

[Ezra]

So, I ordered a barrel from our friends at Rice.  It took a bit of time to get here because I wanted one of their 48” swamped Golden Age barrels C-weight, in .50...smoothbore.  It arrived the other day (beautiful barrel, thank you Rice 👍🏻), but I had forgotten all about it. 
I need some suggestions as to what to make with it.  Originally, I rather fancied an early, long barreled York, but the barrel is just too heavy for the lines of a slender York, dang it!  I already have an early Lancaster, don’t need another.  Some kind of early Virginia maybe?  My knowledge of Virginia rifles is limited though, honestly.  Maybe some kind of Pennsylvania Blue mountain poor boy style with no buttplate? 
I would very much appreciate your constructive comments and ideas.  Thanks boys.  And no, it is not for sale! ;>)


Ez

[rich pierce]

I think folks who think York guns are slender are basing that off later guns. Schroyers early gun’s were as robust as early Dickerts or Oerters.

[smallpatch]

Lehigh schimmel.

[flehto]

I'd go w/ an early Virginia all decked out in brass hardware and w/ a Bplate that's  2-1/8" wide. Some research would be req'd to view some Pboxes that were on some early Virginias...some are pretty nice. Shown is an early Virginia that I built quite a few yrs ago which has steel hardware, but I think brass would look better.

The buttstock architecture is early  Virginian and is quite large w/ a Bplate that's 2-1/8" wide. The  hardware should be available in brass. I used an English style lock { Davis Twigg} that would be appropriate for this style of LR. Don't ordinarily use DSTs , but this LR req'd it.  Whatever your choice....good luck....Fred

[Elnathan]

Look at the breech widths for early Yorks listed in RCA and I think you will find virtually all are in the 1-1/16 to 1-1/8 range. Early Lehighs (see Shumway's Muzzleblasts articles) are pretty robust too.

[AsMs]

Oerter,  with a mythical beast and wire inlay!

[Ezra]

I think folks who think York guns are slender are basing that off later guns. Schroyers early gun’s were as robust as early Dickerts or Oerters.

Rich,

Thank you, coincidentally that is something I just learned recently.  I had a nice, long conversation with my friend Brad Emig on this topic.  His words echoed yours.  So an early York it shall be.  I have, since this thread, also ordered one of Chris Laubachs very excellent early Germanic flintlocks as the proper lock for my early York.  Thanks for the ideas guys!


Ez