Bess barrel removal

[flash pan blue]

I would like to remove the barrel from my Pedersoli brown bess, so i can file off the unwanted writing. I have never disassembled a Flinter before. what is the best way to proceed. I have a small nail set punch ,can i use this to start pushing the pins out , and use pliers to pull them out the rest of the way? From which side do the pins come out, or does it matter and in what order. My main worry is that i will damage something , or that i will not be able to put it back together again.

 

Flash pan, I would recommend getting a pin punch from the hardware store and punch the pins out with that. Pull the lock and take out the barrel tang screw. If it has a shoulder sling take the forward sling swivel out. Sometimes these go through a barrel lug. Knock out the pins from the lock side and put them back in from the near side. An old timer told me this years ago and it works for me. I use a 1/16" pin punch. It helps to lay your gun down on a piece of carpet. This protects the stock from scraping and also gives the pins a place to go when you're punching them out. I use a pair of slick jawed pliers to pull them on out. I hope this helps you out some.BTW, while you have the pins out, put a slight radius on each end. This will keep them from grabbing stock wood while your putting them back in and possibly chipping the holes out.
Don

 

[flash pan blue]

Thanks, Don.
That`s just the information i was looking for!!

 

[thomas]

flash pan blue

I just tried to explain how to get rid of the lettering on barrels using a nail set. You might want to check the thread on De-farbing a Brown Bess. It works and you do not have to use a file to take off any metal at all.

Thomas

 

[CrackStock]

When reinstalling the barrel pins, take a moment to make sure that the holes through the wood and tab are lined up perfectly so you do not knock out a chip of wood at the pin comes through improperly aligned.

You should round one side and flat the other. This allows you to have a flat surface for the punch to strike against and a round to go through the various holes easily. Putting a radius on the metal tab/tenon hole also helps.
I flat the lock side and round other side.

CS

 

[FearNot]

I've also heard you should lay/tag the pins in the order they come out so you can reinstall them in the same holes they came from.