Barrel I. D.

[spiderman852]

Hi All, I recently purchased a barrel with the makers mark on the breech end along with the twist rate(1-72), caliber ( 50cal). The initials H & H are the makers mark. The barrel is 36"long x 1 1/8" and has a false muzzle. It came from the west coast , well maybe not originally. Would any of you recognize the "H&H"?

Thanks, Mike

[Don Stith]

H&H made great cross stick ,match barrels in the 1970's.  They made a number of other good barrels too. Made in Florida by Hoppy Hopkins. Forget who the other H was.
 That crew used to keep the primitive area at Friendship hopping as well as the firing line. Mike Bell won tons of matches using their barrels.

[Frizzen]

Mike worked for them. He made mine when they were in Pennsylvania. Mine is a 45 1-60 twist. Won
A ton with it also.  Great barrels. I once asked Mile how long they would last. He said he didn't know
Because he never could wear one out.

[spiderman852]

Thanks Guys, it sounds as if I got a keeper!

Mike

[Don Getz]

Don..........how about "Hopkins & Hobbs".    Tom Hobbs was originally from the Baltimore, eastern shore area.  Hoppy was a
good shooter, both gun and mouth, have no idea of his whereabouts now........Don

[John A. Stein]

Don--You are right. Tom Hobbs and Hopkins had a barrel making business. Sadly, Tom hobbs passed away about ten or so years ago.

[Levy]

When I used to stop by their barrel making shop in Ocala, FL, it was manned by Hoppy Hopkins and Mark DeHaas.  Mark kindly showed me the steps that a barrel goes through getting made.  I have a .32 cal. pistol barrel of their manufacture with round bottom rifling and a twist rate of 1/18 and a .32 cal. rifle barrel that is a straight taper that I bought at the CLA Show a couple of years ago.

James Levy

[Clowdis]

I remember back in the 70's Bell and Hopkins came up to the North Carolina state shoot and won nearly every match they entered. That showed how well the shooters and barrels shot, but I don't recall anyone in NC ever buying another H&H barrel after that. Not exact exactly the best sales approach.

[Old Bob]

I once had a John Vincent rifle with an H & H barrel on it. I was horribly balanced for offhand shooting, but off the bench it was beautifully accurate. I sold it so I could buy some lathe tools. I wish I had kept it. It would have made a great light chunk gun.

[Blackpowder Barbie]

Long Hammock Barrels out of Oxford Fl (Riley Smith) bought the H & H equipment and still use it in production.

[westbj2]

About 6-8 years ago Hoppy Hopkins was selling Parrots in Las Vegas.   Don, do you find that surprising?
Jim