Originally Posted by waterman
12 lands & grooves got my attention. A lot of Farrow barrels were 12 grooves. Mine is. Farrow appears to have been involved in some experimental barrel making, along with others who were teaching him, in the Springfield, Mass. area in 1884-1885, in the months before the first Farrow appeared. Farrow was employed by Bullard as a salesman, with the title of VP, on a contract covering Calendar Year 1884. In late 1884, Bullard Firearms was out of production due to financing problems, with most of the employees laid off, but their skilled men were still working on private projects, maybe using Bullard tools. Farrow was at least working with Bullard's key staff, maybe even employing them. That might be the time & location of origin of the barrel.

Don't know much about Rollers. I assume that an original action would be available in the 1884-1885 period. Is there any way to date the composition of the barrel steel?

Not sure there is, or if there is whether it would require removing any metal? About the only test I know of is a hardness test that could be done under the forearm.
Here's the false muzzle off the end of the barrel. It's of course tapered internally to allow it the bullet to start easily, and then full depth rifling as it enters the bore. Easier to count since I can see through it and it's definitely 12 groove.

[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]

[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]