Bressien [sp ?] barrels

[bob in the woods]

I have had this .54 barrel a while, and am waiting for the appropriate project to use it. It's 36 long, 1 inch Oct.   Does anyone have information on these barrels?  I'm curious what mat'l it's made from . It certainly seems well made. Perhaps a likely candidate for a 1/2 stock with wood under rib?

[Don Getz]

Apparently you don't know of Ken Bresien.   You have, in your possession, a barrel by probably the best barrel maker
since Harry Pope.    He is better know for his slug gun barrels, but any of his round ball barrels are among the best that
you can get.   I think he is now retired and no longer makes them.  It is probably made of 12L14 steel..............Don

[smylee grouch]

Nice critique by one of the other best in the business. If you should decide to sell it you will have lots of takers.    Smylee

[bob in the woods]

Wow...And , no I don't or should say , didn't know about Ken Bresien.  I got this barrel from a friend who picked it up from someone in Friendship about 15 years ago. He was going to use it to build a Hawken rifle, but never got around to it.

[wetzel]

Congratulations Bob, looks like a real treasure to make a fine rifle.  Now the pressure is on to use if for the right build:)

[bob in the woods]

Yes, I do want to use it, but I'm not really a Hawken fan, hence my thoughts of a wooden under rib 1/2 stock. Nice wide buttplate, with perhaps a Chambers early Ketland lock. I'll have to start looking through my books for something.

[wetzel]

when researching a project what books have you found the most useful?

[bob in the woods]

Wetzel, I use both RCA books, the Kentucky Rifle book, the Pennsylvania Rifle book, as well as years of issues of Muzzleblast magazine .  After going through them all, I usually find something.

[wetzel]

Thanks Bob,

I need to get a copy of those.

[keweenaw]

You might want to check the twist on that barrel before you decide what to do with it.

Tom