Colerain barrel, do I have one?

[TN.Frank]

Reading on Larry Williams/Early Rustic Arms web site got me to thinking. He says that his smoothbore barrels are made from hydralic tubing but you can get a " Colerain brand octagon to round smoothbore barrels are available for additional $100.00.
Is this to say that normally on his Cumberland Fowlers and such that they'd have a full round barrel made from the tubing but if it's an Oct. to Round barrel that it's a Colerain?
My gun has the oct to round barrel. Just wondering what exactly I've got.

 

[Rebel]

The tubing barrels can be made oct to rd too. Not sure how you would tell. Maybe someone else here knows.

 

[TN.Frank]

The only markings on the gun is "LEW" on the top flat of the barrel. Either way I trust that it's going to be a real shooter. I made up a nice ramrod for it today with a tapered head to it'll keep the wads straight going down the barrel. I also like to put a short section of spring on the other end to act as a worm for fishin' out patches from down the bore. Man, I love messing with and making stuff for muzzle loaders. :thumbsup:

P.S.
Yep, this is the Cumberland Fowler that I got for $700 from the guy in Ohio. He let me make $100 buck a week payments on it until I got it paid off. I've not shot it yet but I can already tell it's my favorite muzzle loader with my "Poorboy" Old Riley, coming in a very close second. I put a lot of work into that poorboy to get it fixed up to where I like it. It shoots pretty good too.

 

[Rebel]

The LEW would be Larrys Initials. Just because it may be tubing don't mean it can't be a good shooter. As far as i know my Jackie Brown Carolina smoothbore has a tubing barrel, and it shoots just fine.

 

[TN.Frank]

Yep, I agree. I posted his proof load specs for the tubing barrels in one of the other forums. :thumbsup:

 

[Wes/Tex]

DOM or drawn-over-mandrel tubing is available in several diameters and is being used by a number of makers presently. Most use piping of sufficient diameter to withstand powder pressure and hasn't been a serious problem. Thicker sided tubing can be filed or belt-sanded to octagon at the breech end. One of the makers named had a couple barrel failures early on but has gone to a thicker tubing and hasn't had any re-occurances that I've heard of. Nearly all the India made muskets currently available have barrels made of DOM piping and are working fairly well. The only problem is that the drawing process can leave longitudinal scratches in the bore but most makers are polishing the bores to remove them.

 

[TN.Frank]

Wouldn't you have to machine the entire tube to oct. then turn it round to get the oct to round barrel. Other wise the oct. part of the barrel would be smaller then the round part. Anyway, I'm happy with the gun, barrel and all. :v

 

[Mike Brooks]

Check the bottom flat of the barrel at the breech. If it's a colerain, it will say so.

 

[TN.Frank]

I don't want to know so badly that I'd unpin and remove the barrel. I'll just not worry about it if I have to go thru all of that. Thanks for the info though. If for some strange reason I ever do have to unpin the barrel and take it off I'll remember to check.