Antique brass pistol barrels

[Pete G.]

TOW has a brass Ketland pistol barrel cataloged.
Has anyone had any experience with these ? If so, any pros or cons?
Seems to be an intriguing start to a new project.

[James Wilson Everett]

I saw a pair of pistols being assembled late last year at the gunshop in Old Salem, N.C.  I believe that they bought the old original barrels from TOW, but I cannot be sure (old memory).  The barrels looked very nice, even some engraving.  The drawback was that the flash hole was in a poor position, either too high or too low.  The gunsmith corrected this by filling to existing hole and drilling a new one in the correct position. 

Again, this is based on my memory.  Try to check out their experience, if possible.

Jim

[Pete G.]

I received the barrel, and as James noted, the vent is too low, perhaps by 3/16". I intend to tap the hole and blank it with a screw. It is a rather neat piece of hardware, but has some marks and dings from years of storage and handling. The muzzle needs some cleanup and crowning as it is squared with saw marks on it still, and the breechplug is not set to a shoulder, but has a very fine thread of slightly above bore size. Not exactly what I would like to see, but it has been proofed (Belgium, not London BTW) and a pistol does not carry a heavy charge anyway. The bore measures .570". I intend to pair it with a Chambers Queen Anne lock. Should make for an interesting project.