Swamped barrels

[Lindisfarne793]

Hello, everyone
  I recently dug out a barrel I purchased years ago with the intention of building a gun. It's a 42" swamped B type Colerain barrel. As I plan my build, and particularly hunt for an in stock stock, I want to ask if swamped barrels were characteristic of any particular region. If I had my druthers, I would prefer to build a rifle that might be typical of North Carolina during the Revolution. I am, however, willing to alter my plans to suit the style most appropriate for the barrel I already have. If you have any insight, I am all ears.
Thanks,
Kevin

[Top Jaw]

Here is my 2 cents.  Swamped was the standard as barrels were forged, hammered. and rough ground to such a profile.  Mass produced straight barrels in the US came on the scene much later.  I seem to recall toward the end of the flint, beginning of the percussion era, but don’t quote me on that part.

The barrel you have would he appropriate, although it would likely have been a little larger at the breach, for the era you’re describing. Also the caliber size would come in to play. Would likely have been at least 45 and up. Mostly up. You didn’t mention the caliber of your barrel, but if it’s 40 or below it wouldn’t necessarily be a good representation of that timeframe,....when many would have been hunting larger game, surviving on the edge of civilization, or fighting in a war.

[GANGGREEN]

I think nearly all of the traditional barrels would have been more swamped than most of our barrel profiles today.  I don't really know whether that was by design and they actually enjoyed a heavy rifle or if it was because they simply didn't have the ability to machine high quality steel then.  My guess is that if you had offered them a 7 pound rifle with a nicely swamped 42" barrel that they would have wept tears of joy.   And, as such, I don't really feel any guilt for building or using rifles that aren't 100% historically accurate.  To each his own.

[Pukka Bundook]

Yes, as above replies say, swamped was standard at that time.
Re weight,   I don't think a ten pound rifle would even be noticed back then, when most folks were engaged in manual labour.
Not many desk jobs, and running a shovel would make any rifle seem light!  LOL.
My own rifles are in the 9 to 10 plus pound class, and being a farmer, even an older these days farmer, I don't even Think about the weight.  :-)

Actually I Do think about weight with one unmentionable varmint rig with a bull barrel; That one is well over eleven pounds,  and in the small calibre it is, it feels plain ridiculous!

[bob in the woods]

The measurements given in the RCA books 1 and 2 include the barrel dimensions.  Your B weight swamped barrel , especially if .50 cal , could work for a Rev, War period rifle IMO 
F and I War.....not so much.

[Lindisfarne793]

Thank you all very much; I am sorry to have neglected the caliber. It's a .50. I saw at least one comment that said it would be appropriate for a Revolutionary War era rifle, which is perfect. I had that period and place in mind because of an ancestor who was from North Carolina, enlisted in the militia in Orange County, NC, and later went west into Illinois with a land grant. I wanted to build something not dissimilar to what he might have had.