There are several posts asking for information about where to buy 4 bore barrels along with questions about some of these big guns.
While reading Harold L Petersons Arms and Armor in Colonial America 1526-1783 I came across this and thought it might interest you. It is speaking with reference to wall guns.
"The usual wall piece of the early 18th century and the Revolution was a smooth-bored flintlock. In France, some matchlocks were still used for the purpose at the very beginning of the century. It remained for America, however, to introduce the real innovation in the form of a rifled rampart gun.
These rifled wall pieces were made early in the Revolution and quickly proved effective. On February 4, 1776, Fielding Lewis, Commissioner of the Fredericksburg Manufactory, wrote his brother-in-law, George Washington, that:
"...I propose making a Rifle next week to carry a quarter of a pound ball. If it answers my expectation, a few of them will keep off ships of war from our narrow Rivers, and be usefull in the beginning of an engagement by land..."
It is not definitely known that Lewis achieved his goal and produced these rifles. No surviving specimens are known. There are, however, four surviving specimens made at the famed Rappahannock Forge, a private enterprise under the direction of James Hunter and located directly across the river from Fredericksburg. These huge rifles all weigh in the heighborhood of 50 pounds and are roughly five feet long. They are full stocked, have sliding wooden patch boxes and wooden ramrods. The brass mountings are reminiscent of those on the lighter rifles of the period. Three of the surviving specimens have round barrels, the fourth is octagonal. The design of the exterior parts of the locks resemble those on the Fredericksburg muskets so closely that a common origin or at least a common pattern is suggested.
General Charles Lee attested to the effectiveness of these weapons when he wrote Washington from Williamsburg on May 10, 1776, "I am likewise furnishing myself with four-ounced rifle-amusetts, which will carry an infernal distance: the two-ounced hit a half sheet of paper 500 yards distance."..."
I bet one of those would do a job on ole Stumpkillers boat, by golly! ::
Another area of interest in this book deals with proof loads.
On page 183, speaking of the guns meeting the colonies resolutions about muskets:
"...The maker of the gun was required to prove it at his own risk with 4 1/2 inches of powder, a ball, and wadds on each..."
and on page 185:
"... The Counsil appointed Thomas Ewing as an inspector in Baltimore, and there he proved all submitted muskets with an ounce of powder and two balls..."
That's a 437.5 grain load. :shocking:
Here we need a little Graemlin with a big sign that says
DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME. ::
While reading Harold L Petersons Arms and Armor in Colonial America 1526-1783 I came across this and thought it might interest you. It is speaking with reference to wall guns.
"The usual wall piece of the early 18th century and the Revolution was a smooth-bored flintlock. In France, some matchlocks were still used for the purpose at the very beginning of the century. It remained for America, however, to introduce the real innovation in the form of a rifled rampart gun.
These rifled wall pieces were made early in the Revolution and quickly proved effective. On February 4, 1776, Fielding Lewis, Commissioner of the Fredericksburg Manufactory, wrote his brother-in-law, George Washington, that:
"...I propose making a Rifle next week to carry a quarter of a pound ball. If it answers my expectation, a few of them will keep off ships of war from our narrow Rivers, and be usefull in the beginning of an engagement by land..."
It is not definitely known that Lewis achieved his goal and produced these rifles. No surviving specimens are known. There are, however, four surviving specimens made at the famed Rappahannock Forge, a private enterprise under the direction of James Hunter and located directly across the river from Fredericksburg. These huge rifles all weigh in the heighborhood of 50 pounds and are roughly five feet long. They are full stocked, have sliding wooden patch boxes and wooden ramrods. The brass mountings are reminiscent of those on the lighter rifles of the period. Three of the surviving specimens have round barrels, the fourth is octagonal. The design of the exterior parts of the locks resemble those on the Fredericksburg muskets so closely that a common origin or at least a common pattern is suggested.
General Charles Lee attested to the effectiveness of these weapons when he wrote Washington from Williamsburg on May 10, 1776, "I am likewise furnishing myself with four-ounced rifle-amusetts, which will carry an infernal distance: the two-ounced hit a half sheet of paper 500 yards distance."..."
I bet one of those would do a job on ole Stumpkillers boat, by golly! ::
Another area of interest in this book deals with proof loads.
On page 183, speaking of the guns meeting the colonies resolutions about muskets:
"...The maker of the gun was required to prove it at his own risk with 4 1/2 inches of powder, a ball, and wadds on each..."
and on page 185:
"... The Counsil appointed Thomas Ewing as an inspector in Baltimore, and there he proved all submitted muskets with an ounce of powder and two balls..."
That's a 437.5 grain load. :shocking:
Here we need a little Graemlin with a big sign that says
DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME. ::
