doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com A holy grail type find

Yesterday I was able to obtain a Boots Obermeyer 375 caliber barrel blank. A Obermeyer barrel blank to modern rifle guys is in many ways as a unfitted Pope barrel blank would be to single shot guys of days past.
This barrel was made in the early 1980's and was meant for a custom rifle build for a famous TV star of the same era, by my friend who was a noted custom gunmaker. However after all the pieces for the build were acquired the customer decided to change caliber to 7mm Mag. The barrel has since languished in the inventory of the gunmaker. Yesterday I revisited my friend after 15 years and he offered it to me as he no longer is working on guns. I snapped it up.
It is most interesting in the contour as the barrel was machine to be swamped. The muzzle diameter is slightly larger then the diameter 6" back from the muzzle. It may be the only barrel with this contour that Mr. Obermeyer did.
Now when I finish my Steyr built I might have another project in the wings.

Can you tell if it is a blank, or was that thought to be contoured? Maybe,it's still possible to ask Obermeyer?

I believe Mr Obermeyer has passed or certainly retired after a stroke in 2018 I believe

The barrel was contoured by Boots per the dimensions provided by the customer, my gunmaker friend. Yes it is an unused blank

Thanks for the comment. I don't believe it would apply to an Obermeyer barrel, but there are some barrel makers that turn off some muzzle swell in final contouring that's used to create a little bit of choke at the muzzle during fabrication.

In any event, thanks again, and here's hoping it shapes up to be a fun project. No doubt an interesting and desireable find, maybe someone can stamp the maker and barrel specs under the forearm of the finished project.

Very interesting. Thanks for posting Lyn. Are you thinking .375 H&H? I like the .375 H&H a lot but I had one .375 Taylor and thought highly of that cartridge.

Here was an update on Boot's health as of July:

https://www.m14forum.com/threads/boots-obermeyer-health-update-7-16-20.507108/

Here's a nice picture of him -

https://i.imgur.com/TwvO02U.jpg

Thanks Boltman for the link to an update. It is good to hear that Mr. Obermeyer is still with us.
I see his wife said he will not be able to return to work and that the business will/is closed. I guess that makes my treasure just a little bit more of a treasure.
I have not even given any thought to what I will do with it. I already own a Min M70 in 375 H&H not sure I need another.

Use the 375 bbl on your Steyr project.
Chamber for the 375 N/E rimmed 2.5" case
It was a popular offering in the British built Steyr, Martini & Lee sporters.

You can make a short version of it for the simplicity of obtaining brass by necking up 303British brass.
Then it'll be a 375 N/E 2.25" case .

I still owe you picks of my Romanian Steyr sporter carbine. Haven't forgotten, just haven't dug it out yet.

I am neither trying to be argumentative, rude, or critical- every happy find is a treasure, but what makes an unfinished blank excitingly special? Is barrel quality in the bore and rifling, not the chambering, action fit or contour ?

I have an unfinished half octagon, fully stamped and blued, barrel blank for an Marlin 1893 in 32-40. Found it in a drum of barrels at a show.

I was excited.

If you get it, you get it.