Unmarked gun barrels

[oldtravler61]

Acquired four ML barrels none of which have any marking on them. Two are 40 cal, a 36 and a 54. They are 42 inches long. So my questions are how do you figure twist rate and who made them. If that is possible. Thanks for any help

[Hungry Horse]

I put a tight fitting patch on a ramrod long enough to go all the way to the breech, and mark the opposit end. Then I slowly push it through the barrel while watching the mark on the rod for it to make one rotation. A comparison of common barrel twists to the twist rate you come up with should be pretty close.

 Hungry Horse

[Jerry V Lape]

Hungry horse method works with the exception that you need to mark the ramrod for 1/4 and 1/2 rotation as the slower twists of muzzle loader barrels won't normally give you a full rotation of the ramrod because the twist is longer than the barrel.  Example is 66" twist in a 44" barrel.  If you can get a half twist and the rod has moved 33 inches - multiply by 2 for a full twist of 66". 

[Ky-Flinter]

When checking twist I do as described above, but I make a little "flag" with masking tape on the ramrod.  Very easy to see the amount of turn.

Good luck on guessing who made the barrels.  If you figure it out, let me know the secret cause I have 3 unmarked barrels myself.

-Ron

[bgf]

Sometimes twist rate (covered by others), number of lands/grooves, pattern plus spacing of lands/grooves, and steel can be clues to maker if you run the data in front of enough people. I don't know how to test steel type at home, but a file can give you some idea, soft most likely 12L14, a good bit harder maybe 1137, really hard something else.

Even then, it's just a guess...and why would a maker not mark them at all?  Were they seconds, and why?....

[sqrldog]

Many of the older barrel maker either did not mark their barrel or marked them in very small letters on the breech end that resulted in these letters and numbers being machined off when the barrel is breeched. Les Bauska and Montana barrel  co. are two that come to mind there were several others.  Hard to identify some them if there isn't any history back to the manufacturer.

[oldtravler61]

Thanks everyone. One is supposedly from DGW back in the 70s. Three we're given to me cause they we're rusty. Used KY-Flinters idea of evapo-rust an they all look like New. The bores are excellent also!! But thanks again for all your help. Going to be a busy winter building.....Mike

[crankshaft]

  My DeHass bbls were marked on the breech end, and then sawed off to breech.

[bgf]

  My DeHass bbls were marked on the breech end, and then sawed off to breech.

That's a good point, I have seen dehaas barrels like that, and there's likely more as others noted.  Isn't there some lore about Douglas starting the tradition of marking on bottom (or top) flat to indicate best orientation for runout?  Perhaps marking the flats wasn't as common before that...

[Pennsylvania Dutchman]

I have a .50 x 1 1/8" x32" Numrich barrel that I bought from Dixie in 1973 or 74 and it has no markings.
Mark