Barrel ID?

[Anonym]

Got a new barrel off of Gunbroker the other day as a Christmas present to myself. It was a cheap purchase since the seller had little to no information on it other than it was a .45 caliber barrel. After swapping some emails with the seller, I determined that it should fit into my T/C Renegade, so I placed a bid and won.

The barrel arrived this week, so I've been checking it out to see if I couldn't figure out what it was. I bought it thinking it might be a GM barrel, but there are enough differences that I'm not quite sure what it is, hoping that some of you might help me out to identify it. :bow:

It is a 1-in flat to flat .45 caliber barrel, 32-inches in length to the breech plug. Breech plug is a 1-inch T/C hooked patent breech. Doing the tight-patch test, rifling twist appears to be in the 1:60 to 1:66 range. There are 7 lands and deep grooves. The front and rear sights are dovetailed into the barrel as well as the underlug. the underrib is screwed to the barrel, but the thimbles appear to be soldered on as I didn't notice screws (but I haven't taken the underrib off either, so they may be hiding!). Thimbles are straight barrels with a groove at each end, similar to what CVA used on their Hawkens.

There are absolutely no markings on this barrel other than a 3-digit number stamped in very small font on the bottom flat between the underlug and the breech plug. The flats show no signs of filing or machining that might have removed a makers marking.

Comparing it to my older GM barrel, here are the differences:

-Rear sight and underlug are dovetailed instead of screwed to the barrel.
-Rear sight is located approximately 2-3 inches farther forward on this barrel compared to the location of the rear sight on the GM barrel.
-The muzzle is fairly square, with very small chamfers onto the flats compared to the larger chamfers on the GM barrel.

The barrel is probably older, as there is evidence of light rusting near the nipple. It has been refinished in a dull gray (parkerized) finish. The bore looks great with only small evidence of light rusting in a small area in the grooves near the muzzle.

I'm wondering if it may be an old Green River Rifle Works barrel. It looks similar (dimensionally) to this one:

Here are a couple pics from the auction:

Any thoughts? :idunno:

Thanks,
Anonym

 

[Anonym]

Hmm, just got this email from "Doc" White...

"GRRW barrels all had seven lands and grooves, the only production barrels that ever did, so it is likely a GRRW DOC"

Looks like I got a heck of a deal on a fine barrel! Can't wait to get it out shooting.

 

[Walks Alone]

Without digging mine out of storage to have a looksee... could it be a Numrich Arms barrel?

 

[Anonym]

Beats me! Any specific characteristics about the Numrich barrels? Hard to tell since there's no markings on it anywhere. The 7 lands/grooves is fairly unique though. Either way, I got to pop a shot or two out of it over the weekend at close range. It loaded easily and hit the can I had out at 15 yards, so I guess it'll work! :hmm: :wink:

Anonym

 

[jethro224]

I think maybe it's a CVA. Look at the barrel on the gun in auction #154506482 on Gunbroker. It's a flinter, but looks like the same rear sight & thimbles.

 

[Anonym]

Yes, a very similar rear sight and thimbles, but probably what was available when building the barrel. This one was not modified to fit a TC, it was built that way without any extra screw holes or dovetails. Muzzle is also very squared compared to the CVA. Doc White said the Green River barrels were the only barrels manufactured with 7 lands/grooves, which mine has, so it's probably pretty safe to say that either GRRW built the barrel for a customer that shot a TC, or they at least provided the barrel blank to whoever built it. Regardless, it's a nice barrel.

I just recently stripped the gray finish off. Turned out to be a paint job, possibly a duracoat. I'm in the process of browning it and looking for another 1" channeled T/C stock to give it a good home. :thumbsup: