wrought iron welded barrels

[shortbarrel]

Are they any more of these barrels out there in ML land. Looking for a couple to build  a rifle or two. seems like I can"t find them any more. Used to be everywhere. I like the small calibers and about 7/8 across the flats or larger,so I can fresh out or bore ,ream and rifle then.

[Dave B]

I will occasionally run into them at the gunshows from time to time. One fellow showed up at a gunmakers fair with a boat load and said these are free for the taking. I was lucky enough to have a couple already in hand when the offer for willing takers and left with two or three that day.  Prices can very quite a bit I see them on E-bay from time to time and prices from 30-150 can be realized at auction. I personally like the free kind but I have been forced on occasion to pay money for some that had addtional parts attached. 

[keweenaw]

Not all those old muzzleloader barrels that show up are welded wrought iron.  Many of the straight ones are more likely drilled steel.  Buy why start with an old barrel for a new rifle?  By the time you lap or ream them, recut the rifling, lap again and clean up the surface you have more time in them than buying a new barrel and you'll definitely have more in them is you need to rebreech them which you probably will.  There are good uses for those good old barrels in restoration projects, but to me it makes no sense for new work.

Tom

[Blacksmoke]

Shortbarrel:  I may have just what you are looking for.    It is an original iron barrel 36&3/4" long in .360 cal.  The breech measures: .970" AF and the muzzle is: .945" AF.  It has 7"gain twist" grooves and the barrel tenons + the sights are intact, but no breech plug.  It was made for a percussion rifle as it has a threaded drum hole.  The cost is $100 which includes shipping to cont. USA.       Hugh Toenjes

[shortbarrel]

Don't understand what you mean by new build. If the rifle is all wrought iron and uses  pieces from old rifles, is this a new build. Only thing I ever buy from a ML parts dealer is a chunk of wood to make the stock. If I don't have all the parts I need,I just forge then out and file then up.

[Dave B]

 if you are using a collection of original bits and parts to make a new rifle that looks old you are a contemporary builder of newly assemble collection of old looking parts,ie, restocking or a new build whether your using new parts are old its a contemporary build. The use of original barrels for making a rifle that will be consistently shot is not good Idea im my book. Especially if its is a forge welded barrel. 

[TPH]

Don't understand what you mean by new build. If the rifle is all wrought iron and uses  pieces from old rifles, is this a new build. Only thing I ever buy from a ML parts dealer is a chunk of wood to make the stock. If I don't have all the parts I need,I just forge then out and file then up.

Yep, that's "a new build", it's just made of some used and maybe some new parts.

[shortbarrel]

Thanks everybody for your kind replies on the subject of (new build). I'll try to get my terminology correct from now on. Thanks for the offer for a wrought iron barrel in a above post, but it is to short, need 39 inch and longer. Still locking for a couple of barrels, if you know anyone who has any for a good price, tell them about me. The rifles I build are all wrought iron, love the east TN and Western NC hog rifles.