Glenn-
Don't know if you remember you and I talking about voate barrels a couple of years ago, but I have learned soem more since then. DOn't know about forging to shape in the old days, but have talked to 2 gunamkers who have worked on them and can recreate them.
One was Nate and he worked on some when he was at G&H. He and I talked about set-ups and methods for making them.
Also talked to Ralph Martini about this and 1/2oct 1/2 rnd bbls. He was VERY helpful and taought me a lot. I also got to handle a barrel Ralph made when I was visiting a certain gunmaker in Waukegan one day this past May. The barrel was not a true ovate, but was even more complex than that.
I also know that Ralph and Martin restored an old H&H SS with an ovate barrel last year or the year before, so he deifnitely studied at least one up close and personal.
I still have that huge Kreiger blank for my project but just can't get over the latest injury.
I have an old German 1/2 oct 1/2 rnd bbl here if you want more pics of anything in particular.
