barrel maker with a VP in a circle

[Jim Curlee]

Saw barrel for sale.
Has a VP in a circle, with a star beside it, who was the maker?
Thanks
Jim

[G-Man]

Might be a marks for "viewed" and "proofed" rather than the maker.

Guy

[Jim Curlee]

Would that make it more modern, or more antique?
It's a percussion barrel.
Thanks
Jim

[TPH]

The "VP" Is a military proof mark applied at Harpers Ferry and Springfield as well as those making guns on contract for the Federal Government.

What does the barrel look like? Full octagon? Octagon to round? Round and tapered? What caliber, rifled or smooth bored? With the "star" I am guessing it is a contract made barrel from a smoothbored musket - round and tapered and .69 (or slightly larger) caliber.

[Jim Curlee]

The barrel is 28 1/2" long? Could be cut down, who knows?
1 1/8"s across the flats, 15/16 at the muzzle
The ad says it's a 32-40
Has an under rib, with 2 rod pipes
nipple, and drum
tang looks to be 4"-5"s long
Jim

[TPH]

By the breach and muzzle measurements it sounds like a cut down musket or rifle musket barrel.

What do they mean by "32-40"?

[Jim Curlee]

TPH;
Sounds like a mess to me, I'm definitely not interested.
I tried to ask the guy a few questions, like how did he know it was a 32-40?
He didn't know. He couldn't answer any of the questions I had.
In my book that means PASS.
If your interested it's on gun broker.
Thanks
Jim

[TPH]

Like you, REALLY not interested but if you like, PM me a link, I would like to see it. I can't get it to come up on search.

[Jim Curlee]

It's ad # 223290042, on gunbroker

[TPH]

Pass is right. It appears to be an old barrel maybe 50 years old or so? And he doesn't show the "VP and star" marking. The 32-40 designation is completely unclear. Maybe .32 cal. by 40 inches long? I just don't know.

[Gaeckle]

Pass is right. It appears to be an old barrel maybe 50 years old or so? And he doesn't show the "VP and star" marking. The 32-40 designation is completely unclear. Maybe .32 cal. by 40 inches long? I just don't know.

Perhaps a 32 caliber with a one in 40 twist......I've seen the barrel, would make an interesting half-stock with a back action lock.

[coutios]

  Didn't Winchester make a 32-40 ?  Could this thing be a hacked off bullet gun barrel...  Just a thought

Regards
Dave

[doug]

   PV stands for proof veritas or something very similar.  It is a proof mark.  32-40 was a popular black powder cartridge and to some still is (like me :>)   )   Without going down and looking, I think that Winchester's proof was a P in an oval.  No matter what, the barrel sounds like a 32-40 cartridge barrel

cheers Doug