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Joined: Nov 2005
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Sidelock
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There was an interesting thread on the Lefever forum recently. It was about the strange marks found on some Lefever barrels. Well, we were able to identify some as barrel makers from Belgium. A few are known to be American barrel makers. There is also a couple of marks that may turn out to be British. We know that he was buying barrels from Krupp. So can we ask for any more variation in a product?

What I find interesting is the variation. How one "maker" at a particular place and time followed a particular supply chain, while his neighbor / competitor found another solution.

I have no doubt some "makers" did their own receiver forging, hand forged their own barrels and shaped their own stocks. I have no doubt that some purchased semi-finished parts from specialist companies. I am sure that some made nothing at all but had their name stamped on the final product.

So often we find ourselves talking in absolutes. We all know well that there were all the shades of gray imaginable.

Lowell's original question was about 4 companies. I know that there were rolling mills and foundries in abundance. That makers could purchase steel stock, semi-finished parts or completed parts. The guilds were strong and active. So there was no lack of talent and labor. This talent was international and their work output crossed easily from country to country. I do not know which supply chain at what time any of these 4 companies followed. While they may open their books full of serial numbers and owners, I doubt many of them would ever share their accounts receivables records. Imagine the horror of non-proprietary hands using a bastard file on a sear!

Pete

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I think deep down, there's a rooting section for the London gun to have been made in er-er-er......FRANCE!

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MS - I expect the guys you speak of did it just to prove they could; to themselves and the world. If they were becoming Masters, they have need of understanding the process all the way. The technology required to forge an action isn't all that difficult. The skill needed is considerable. The higher the forging skill, the less machining required make a working action.

Just a note, I recall that a 3# set of damascus barrels started life as 18# of steel and iron. That is a pretty serious amount of excess metal to be removed. Also, I recall the in Charles Lancaster's (the original guy of barrel making fame) day, barrel makers sat at a very large wet grinding wheel and ground down the exterior of the barrels by hand. They died young of silicosis, too.

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If you want to see an excellent documentary on hand forging guns see if you can find a copy of The Gunsmith of Williamsburg. It was a tape produced in, I believe, the late 60s of Wallace Gusler making a flint lock rifle at the shop in Colonial Williamsburg. He actually starts with a skelp sp? and forges out the barrel around a mandrel. It was a long time ago, Mr. Gusler looks to be in his 20s. Very interesting to watch. Best Regards, Jack

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LG - while I'm not "rootin'" for any gunt to have been made anywhere or by anyone in particular, I'd not be at all dismayed to find it was made in France. There is a very fine gunmaking tradition there and very fine materials. Once the French learned to make steel, about 75-100 years after the Brits, they made good stuff. They grew some awesome trees, too. Oh, and they grew some craftsmen of the first stripe. Style and design are the issues, not workmanship or materials.

Last edited by Rocketman; 03/21/07 09:14 AM.
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Originally Posted By: Lowell Glenthorne
I think deep down, there's a rooting section for the London gun to have been made in er-er-er......FRANCE!


Qu'est-ce que c'est? A traitor in the gun room you say, Mon Dieu!

Pete

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