Barrel question

[kruzer1]

Hello everyone, it has been awhile but I am back.

I am planning a future project (16th century Wheelock Carbine) and was toying with the idea of turning a straight bore cva Hawkens barrel I purchased a few years back.

My problem us it has three holes in the bottom. I just measured them and they 0.151 deep with the barrel wall thickness of .242.

I don't really want to take the time to turn a unique 16th century profile on my lathe with those showing. Could I fill them with screws or have them tig welded?

Or would I be better to just get a different barrel for the process? Most firearms in this time period are left in the white so I do not want any visible blemishes on the barrel.

 

[Phil Coffins]

For all the work of scratch building I’d start with a different barrel.

 

[simonbeans]

Most likely the holes were for screws that held the rib on that had thimbles attached for the loading rod. I would just put screws in with loctite or JB Weld, file them flush with the barrel flat and shoot away.

 

[kruzer1]

Most likely the holes were for screws that held the rib on that had thimbles attached for the loading rod. I would just put screws in with loctite or JB Weld, file them flush with the barrel flat and shoot away.

I was thinking of that just not sure if how they would look after turning.

I suppose if they look terrible I could put them on the bottom... I had planned to flip the barrel so I would not need to file the modern markings of the current top but that could be an option.