I am am currently building an American fowler using replica English parts. The barrel I am using is a replica of a Thomas Richards. Its pretty much round with a couple of flats at the breech. This made me wonder about round barrels used in early American rifles/fowlers. Were round barrels ever used by the early American makers. I am not talking about re-used or use of imported barrels but did the early makers here in America always make their barrels with an oct/round or oct shape. Just curious since so many of the European barrels were round.
Dennis