Halfstock swamped

bigted · Jul 2, 2024

Don't believe I have ever seen nor heard of a swamped barrel being used in a hook breeched halfstocked rifle.

Have I been under a rock this whole time?

If not then why not I'm wondering. I know the tapered barrel would be challenging to fit an under rib onto tho.

FlinterNick · Jul 2, 2024

bigted said:
Don't believe I have ever seen nor heard of a swamped barrel being used in a hook breeched halfstocked rifle.

Have I been under a rock this whole time?

If not then why not I'm wondering. I know the tapered barrel would be challenging to fit an under rib onto tho.

The underrib would need to be hollow and capped, not very common but I’ve seen them

bigted · Jul 2, 2024

Interesting, did not think about a hollow rib. I thought about taking a grinder on a solid underrib to custom fit it so as to be able to countersink the thimble into the rib. Be a custom fit for sure.

Grenadier1758 · Jul 2, 2024

The half stock rifles became popular after the ability to use the deep drilling of a straight hole in a barrel blank. Barrels were tapered, but no longer swamped. The under rib could be readily attached to these straight tapered bores. Use of the hollow under rib reduced weight of the barrel and reasonable handling remained. Of course, the Hawken brothers used thick barrel walls so a weight of 10 pounds or more was common in their plains rifles.

bigted · Jul 2, 2024

Cool. I have had a 40 cal swamped barrel around for awhile and have contemplated buildin a half stock from it. Maybe an English style and possibly just cut the flair off the Muzzle end. Then it would be just a tapered barrel. It is Oct to round but I think it would make a fine small bore rifle and light enough to be a real pleasure to pack around.

Believe it to be a round bottom Colorane barrel and quite long so the end amputation would hurt nothing.

longcruise · Jul 2, 2024

Many of those guns had tapered barrels. A swamped barrel could have been used and maybe were but just an unnecessary complication.

FlinterNick · Jul 2, 2024

bigted said:
Interesting, did not think about a hollow rib. I thought about taking a grinder on a solid underrib to custom fit it so as to be able to countersink the thimble into the rib. Be a custom fit for sure.

You see hollow under ribs on older guns where the forearm had been damaged or worn away from use and age. You also often see on guns with straight barrels because it reduces the weight dramatically. Muzzleloader builder supply has them, originals were a sheet metal that could easily be formed to the shape of the barrel, swamped or tapered.

sdilts · Jul 3, 2024

I've built several halfstocks with a swamped barrel. I used a hollow rib from MBS on all except for one. On that one I used a regular rib and filed it to fit. That was a lot of work.

52Bore · Jul 3, 2024

Alexander Henry (Scotland) built in 1860’s has a Swamped barrel, but not a lot. About 1/16” occurring about 10-12” from muzzle on this 36” bbl.

Hollow ribs were very common on nice British work in the 19th Century.
FlinterNick cross-section picture is spot on.

bigted · Jul 3, 2024

Oh that's a beautiful rifle.

bigted · Jul 3, 2024

So now the decisions need to be made. I have not used this barrel because it is an A contour barrel and I've had difficulty finding an A contour stock for it's 44 inch length.

FOUND one finally. Thanks to the reference to MBS. They carry one. In black walnut no less.

So now the decision making begins. Kinda want an English style rifle but a southern mountain style would be very cool too.

Guess maybe I need to be building 2 rifles now

Uncle Miltie · Jul 3, 2024

Rifles were often built with parts from wrecked or worn out guns.
I have seen a good number of half stocks built with swamped barrels that were salvaged from a wreck.
I own two such rifles. The rib is simply soldered to the bottom flat of the barrel.

AZ Muzzleloaders · Jul 3, 2024

I have a couple half stocks with swamped barrels. A contemporary LH and an original German Jaeger.

Mulemauler · Jul 4, 2024

If you want something a bit different think about using wood. I've seen it on many old originals where the forearm had been removed and the rifle rebuilt as a half stock. The wood rib is easily contoured to fit the barrel and often pinned to the existing lugs. Thimbles pinned to the rib. Looks cool and much simpler than soldering a hollow rib.

AZ Muzzleloaders · Jul 4, 2024

Mulemauler said:
If you want something a bit different think about using wood. I've seen it on many old originals where the forearm had been removed and the rifle rebuilt as a half stock. The wood rib is easily contoured to fit the barrel and often pinned to the existing lugs. Thimbles pinned to the rib. Looks cool and much simpler than soldering a hollow rib.

The half stock LH I have pictured has a wood under rib.

Twisted_1in66 · Jul 4, 2024

52Bore said:
Alexander Henry (Scotland) built in 1860’s has a Swamped barrel, but not a lot. About 1/16” occurring about 10-12” from muzzle on this 36” bbl.

Hollow ribs were very common on nice British work in the 19th Century.
FlinterNick cross-section picture is spot on.
View attachment 331589

That sure looks like a LOT more than a 1/16" increase in diameter from the smallest part of he barrel (above the sling ring) up to the muzzle...a lot more than 1/16"

bigted · Jul 4, 2024

AZ Muzzleloaders said:
I have a couple half stocks with swamped barrels. A contemporary LH and an original German Jaeger.View attachment 331629 View attachment 331630

Nice rifles. Yes I see the wood rib. Looks pretty sharp. It sure looks to me like more than a 1/16th inch increase as well. Looks good tho

sportster73hp · Jul 4, 2024

Might not be HC but Traditions offers half stock rifles with a ramrod pipe on a simple block . No wood or rib.

bigted · Jul 5, 2024

Sportster, no disrespect intended but those halfstock rifles ... in my humble opinion ... are very unsightly with air blowing between the ramrod and the barrel. Again that's just this pilgrims opinion and not intended to be disrespectful.

Gotta have steel or wood rib to make em look flowing and correct.

I'll betcha that those Traditions Rifles would be a good hunting rifle to bring home meal after meal tho.

sportster73hp · Jul 5, 2024

bigted said:
Sportster, no disrespect intended but those halfstock rifles ... in my humble opinion ... are very unsightly with air blowing between the ramrod and the barrel. Again that's just this pilgrims opinion and not intended to be disrespectful.

Gotta have steel or wood rib to make em look flowing and correct.

I'll betcha that those Traditions Rifles would be a good hunting rifle to bring home meal after meal tho.

I don't like their look either. Just an option. Have always liked full stock rifles. The reason i have a few mausers. My first bp rifle was a full stock then a couple of hawken

Halfstock swamped

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