Author Topic: Pistol barrel contour  (Read 3263 times)

Offline sydney

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Pistol barrel contour
« on: February 14, 2018, 10:25:18 PM »
Hi--need ideas for the contour of a barrel to suit English style flintlock pistol
     This is my first layout

      50 cal
     Barrel is 12 long
     7/8across flats for 4 in
     Barrel bands then step to .800 dia
     8 in from bands to muzzle
     muzzle dia .750
     barrel to be lightly swamped near muzzle
     Any ideas ???
        Thanks    Sydney

Offline Daryl

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Re: Pistol barrel contour
« Reply #1 on: February 15, 2018, 12:41:11 AM »
Here is one Taylor built, but I do not have measurements for it & it is round. Mine has similar shape to yours, however,
my barrel has much less tapered and less flair as well.








Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a spaniel without ears" King George V

Offline Joe S.

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Re: Pistol barrel contour
« Reply #2 on: February 15, 2018, 12:50:09 AM »
That's some nice work right there,thanks for sharing that Daryl.Taylor sure can build 'em sweet.

Offline sydney

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Re: Pistol barrel contour
« Reply #3 on: February 15, 2018, 02:42:53 AM »
Any ideas on a round contoured barrel
    General dimensions??
     Sydney

Offline D. Taylor Sapergia

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Re: Pistol barrel contour
« Reply #4 on: February 15, 2018, 03:02:56 AM »
Sydney:  I have a book by Johnson about English pistols with dimensions.  Come over and have a look...

Taylor
D. Taylor Sapergia
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Art is not an object.  It is the excitement inspired by the object.

Offline sydney

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Re: Pistol barrel contour
« Reply #5 on: February 15, 2018, 03:36:02 AM »
Hi Taylor--- I will give you a call
                Thanks    Sydney

Offline Elnathan

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Re: Pistol barrel contour
« Reply #6 on: February 15, 2018, 06:27:22 AM »
Sydney:  I have a book by Johnson about English pistols with dimensions.  Come over and have a look...

Taylor

What book would that be, and does it include barrel dimensions? Inquiring minds want to know...
A man can never have too much red wine, too many books, or too much ammunition -  Rudyard Kipling

Offline Pukka Bundook

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Re: Pistol barrel contour
« Reply #7 on: February 15, 2018, 05:27:38 PM »
I think we would need to know what age you want the pistol to represent.   
Earlier tend to be longer and slimmer, and later more blocky and often octagonal.

Hard to give a generic contour that'll work for all.
Many pistols from early to mid 18thC round and swamped to some degree.   

All the best,
R.

Offline sydney

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Re: Pistol barrel contour
« Reply #8 on: February 15, 2018, 07:35:53 PM »
Hi-- appox  1750 to 1760
      Long slim barrel 12 in
      I am now leaning to round swamped profile
      Thanks    Sydney

Offline smart dog

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Re: Pistol barrel contour
« Reply #9 on: February 15, 2018, 08:03:37 PM »
Hi,
You seem to be describing a holster or horse pistol.  I have seen quite a few modern made "English" pistols made with octagon to round barrels.  Some, perhaps even most, that I examined had barrels on which the octagon section was mostly straight with almost no taper and then any swamp is in the round part. IMO, those barrels look clunky and awkward.  Often they are still very thick at the rear ramrod thimble which makes it impossible to create a slim elegant looking pistol.  Ideally, whether O/R or swamped round, you want most (up to 75%) of the taper within 3" of the breech continuing slightly to a point just before the rear ramrod thimble or wedding band and then thin almost straight until just before muzzle, then a very subtle flair at the muzzle.  Most horse pistols were larger caliber than 50 and ideally you want one with thin barrel walls.

dave
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Offline jerrywh

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Re: Pistol barrel contour
« Reply #10 on: February 15, 2018, 10:39:52 PM »
 12 inches long would be a very unusual length for a English pistol.  Most of them were about 8 1/2" to 9" long. that is in the Georgian period. I never have seen one with a 12" barrel.
Nobody is always correct, Not even me.

Offline Pukka Bundook

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Re: Pistol barrel contour
« Reply #11 on: February 15, 2018, 11:03:10 PM »
Yes Jerry, I'd put a 12" barrel more at the beginning of the century, but we can never say never or always....  I have got into trouble over that before now!

Offline smart dog

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Re: Pistol barrel contour
« Reply #12 on: February 16, 2018, 01:01:51 AM »
Hi Jerry and Richard,
Richard is bang on.  Generally barrels >10" are found on late 17th and early 18th century pistols but there are beauties shown in Neal and Back' s books and Dixon's from the 1740s with 12" barrels.  In Dixon's book, there is a H. W. Mortimer pistol from the 1780s with a 13" Kurdish-made barrel.  Those long skinny pistols are the most beautiful to my eyes.

dave
"The main accomplishment of modern economics is to make astrology look good."

Offline D. Taylor Sapergia

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Re: Pistol barrel contour
« Reply #13 on: February 16, 2018, 03:43:26 AM »
The book to which I refer is called, "The English Pistol - A pictorial Study", by Beech and Bingham.  I bought my copy from TOW years ago.  the spine of the paper covered book let go, and now I have the pages in a three-ringed binder.
On pistols with the longer barrels, from a slightly earlier time, the grip angle is a little straighter .  I agree that those early pistols are elegant.
D. Taylor Sapergia
www.sapergia.blogspot.com

Art is not an object.  It is the excitement inspired by the object.

Offline sydney

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Re: Pistol barrel contour
« Reply #14 on: February 16, 2018, 04:01:06 AM »
Hi---If anyone has pictures of long barrel pistols that you could
            post or send by email I would appreciate it
            Thanks   Sydney 

Offline Elnathan

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Re: Pistol barrel contour
« Reply #15 on: February 16, 2018, 04:19:02 AM »
The book to which I refer is called, "The English Pistol - A pictorial Study", by Beech and Bingham.  I bought my copy from TOW years ago.  the spine of the paper covered book let go, and now I have the pages in a three-ringed binder.
On pistols with the longer barrels, from a slightly earlier time, the grip angle is a little straighter .  I agree that those early pistols are elegant.

Thanks. Does it include such dimensions as breech width, or just barrel lengths? I'm kind of interested in making a pistol someday, but I have no idea what the barrel dimensions should be for either a European horse pistol or a Kentucky pistol. I managed to measure an original Belgian long-barreled pistol with a 1 1/16" breech at the Cumberland show but that is all I've got.
A man can never have too much red wine, too many books, or too much ammunition -  Rudyard Kipling

Offline smart dog

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Re: Pistol barrel contour
« Reply #16 on: February 16, 2018, 04:45:12 AM »
Hi,
Sydney, buy the books.  If you are a serious builder, do the research and buy the books.

dave
"The main accomplishment of modern economics is to make astrology look good."

Offline D. Taylor Sapergia

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Re: Pistol barrel contour
« Reply #17 on: February 16, 2018, 05:08:25 AM »
With most of the pictures of pistols is information:  barrel length, calibre, dimensions at breech and various places along the length of the barrel depending on it's taper and form.  Great book!
D. Taylor Sapergia
www.sapergia.blogspot.com

Art is not an object.  It is the excitement inspired by the object.

Offline sydney

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Re: Pistol barrel contour
« Reply #18 on: February 16, 2018, 06:15:01 AM »
Hi Smart Dog---I am trying to do the research by posting here and talking to Taylor
                       The books mentioned are very pricy here in Canada
                         and just out of my price range
                        Sydney