For you viewing pleasure: I was asked to look at this barrel by the Thomasville, GA Historical Museum. Alas, it is in relic condition and the provenance is sketchy. All we know is it was found in a mid-19th century cabin that was moved to the Museum grounds in the 1970's. The cabin was from southern GA. The barrel was "leaning behind a door" in the cabin but that is all they know. It may have come with the cabin or someone placed it there after the cabin was moved. Whatever the case the barrel was once part of a
really long, longrifle! It appears to be in its original unaltered state with no sign that it was cut down, converted, etc. but as the pictures show it is heavily oxidized, bent, and notched near the muzzle all of which suggests burial in the ground and likely getting dug up by a plow. There were 4 dovetailed underlugs (one missing), a silver front sight (rear sight missing) and a drum (nipple missing). The tang is broken off at the tang screw hole so no idea how long the complete tang was. It appears to be hammer forged and is fully octagonal. What sets it apart and made me want to share it with ya'll is the length: 53" from muzzle to breech! It has a graceful swamped profile 1.024" at breech, .848" at waist, and .916" at muzzle. Hard to tell what original caliber was - .45 to .50 most likely. There is a large amount of wear at the muzzle and very little rifling can still be discerned. I can find no evidence of a signature and such due to the heavy pitting. I would appreciate any input or insight from the experts. I would say it
likely southern due to the length but that may be assuming way too much. I might have to get up with Ed Rayl and see if he would replicate it...
