swamped barrels, What purpose did they serve

[Protrucker]

Maybe not a diference in handling, but you would have a shorter sight radius. That can affect accuracy.

 

[flaming canvas]

Noticed a thread where someone is building a straight, 1" x 42" x .32cal rifle...seems like that would be extremely heavy

Just the barrel would be close to 9 pounds. Finished rifle must be over 11.

 

[Vaino]

Just curious....where did the word "swamped" come from and how far back was swamped used?...Fred

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

In Greener's "The Gun", which goes back to 1881, he mentions swamped ribs on side-by-side double guns, but there's no mention of swamped barrels.

Webster's latest Dictionary doesn't carry any reference to firearms in it's definition of swamped.

I have a feeling that this is going to be an interesting quest, Fred!

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

Y'know, Fred, I wonder if "swamped" might be a corruption of an old German word. The first German gunmakers may have brought the word with them and it was misheard by local folks and mispronounced by them as a result. Haven't the faintest idea how to check this out--maybe one of our German members can help?

 

[flintlock50]

Don't know where the term swamped originated but I believe in the 18th century they were called tapered and flared.

 

[Splais]

The term 'swamped' came from the appearance of the barrel as it sat in a container of water. The 'sway' in the barrel resembled a swamped boat - ergo, swamped barrel............well it could be true :hmm: lets here a better story :grin:

 

[Zonie]

lets here a better story

Well, how about most swamps have higher areas that gently become lower areas which are often flooded.
The high areas are represented by the breech and the muzzle with the lower swamp in between them?

 

[howdydoit]

i think i like Zonies story better :surrender:

 

[texcl]

I'm building a 36 cal 42" 13/16" straight barreled mountain rifle, and it's pretty heavy couldn't imagine a 1" .32.

 

[Mike Brooks]

Swamped barrels take off weight. A tapered barrel would take off more weight but the front sight would be 2 inches tall. The barrels were flared back out at the muzzle so the sights could be a reasonable size.

Many Klatch

There's your answer. :thumbsup:

 

[Claude Mathis]

lets here a better story

Well, how about most swamps have higher areas that gently become lower areas which are often flooded.
The high areas are represented by the breech and the muzzle with the lower swamp in between them?

:thumbsup: "Swamp" means, low-lying area.

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

Could it be as simple as that? Why not....