barrel length?

[mark esterly]

can someone please tell me how one arrives at the original barrel length of a previously un-documented, found original rifle that's barrel was obviously cut.  seems to me to be only speculation.

[WadePatton]

Educated speculation with special regard to the placement of the uppermost pipe, the style of gun, and then how it (the top pipe) is spaced to the other pipes--is the best I can figger. 

I don't think anyone would argue that this can be guessed much closer than an inch. 

[mark esterly]

now see.  that's my point.  say a barrel was cut way back and the stock was broke and missing from the entry pipe or the next one.  you don't know how many pipes were there 2 or 3 so there's really no way to say for sure.

[rich pierce]

Look for the underlugs moved on the barrel or the stock re-drilled for pins after breech end was shortened.

[WadePatton]

now see.  that's my point.  say a barrel was cut way back and the stock was broke and missing from the entry pipe or the next one.  you don't know how many pipes were there 2 or 3 so there's really no way to say for sure.

Or four?  (my style).  Yes, never any way to know for sure.  I'll not argue that point, especially where other parts have been altered.