Swamped ???

[Jim Cook]

I know what the term “swamped” means as pertaining to a barrel. I’ve also heard or read that a “swamped” barrel looks better and the gun with such a barrel will feel better balanced.

To my uneducated eye the “swamped” barrel has a general shape similar to a cannon on an old ship like the “Constitution”. It necks down and then flairs out at the muzzle.

But I can’t find a good explanation of where the term came from or what it actually means. Can anyone help  ?

[LRB]

  A swamp is always in a low area in topography. The swamp of the barrel is the mid-section, hence, it is swamped in the middle.

[Bill of the 45th]

This type of barrel is also called tapered and flared.  This also applies to some of the octagon to round barrels.  Just a description.  Also today's modern swamped barrels are generally more exagerated in the amount of swamp they have.

Bill

[Don Getz]

I am not sure who coined the term "swamped", but, knowing some the terms used by the late Bill Large, I have a feeling
his is responsible for it...............Don

[flintriflesmith]

The first use of the term "swamped" for what was called in the period a "tapered and flared" barrel does seem to be from the 1950s or so.

To my knowledge it was being used at that time by riflemaker Hacker Martin. He was working near Appomattox VA then but had worked in TN earlier so he may have brought the term with him.

As Don said it could have been Bill Large as well. He and Hacker certianly knew each other.

Gary

[G-Man]

I recall in Foxfire 5 - one of the people interviewed was describing a Bean rifle that they used to own, that had been stolen, and said it had a "swedged" barrel.  Anybody hear that term used anywhere else?

Guy

[Stan]

If my memory is correct Carl Pippert coined the phrase "swamped barrel".