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