Cutting a barrel

[rickevans]

I have recently acquired a nice Rifle Shoppe 1726-1748 French Musket that has started it's transformation to a millitia musket/barn gun configuration.

I want to cut the bbl back some, to around 42". Other than a new good quality hacksaw blade and a file to finish it, any other recommendations? I will be attempting to do this just like a person would in the 18th century.  This will be a French issued musket that was plundered by a fellow during his F&I war service, and has been de-militarized for use on his farm/land.  Bayonette and lugs gone, bbl bands removed, bbl pinned to a slenderized stock, bbl shortened and a new front sight added...

[Riley/MN]

Can't help with your question, but I look forward to seeing your "sporter"....

[Catchem]

Sounds like the tools are right.

You'll probably need/want some sort of blade front sight, maybe 3/8 inch tall to allow you to file it down. One of the many gun builders here can specify this better than me. You also might consider a 36-38 inch long barrel, as long as you are shortening it, this may be handier in the woods.

[rickevans]

I will take some pics as we go along...

One of my herd is a nice Centermark Fusil that sports a 36" bbl. It also has a rear sight. It is a handy long gun in the woods. I want to have a longer bbl smoothbore as well.  This will be my trade gun match trade gun.

[greyhunter]

Rick, a plumbers tubing cutter will put a perfectly square scribe mark on the barrel where you can cut it easily with your saw. I usually cut ahead of the mark a touch, then file to it. Good luck!

[Captchee]

might want to put a crrown back on the muzzle after cutting   it down .
 doesnt have to be to large of a crown . just enough to knock  the sharp edge of the bore

[rickevans]

Thanks fellas...I will get to this project after the long weekend (with an extra Tuesday off too!)

[Catchem]

Sounds nice.
I'm just curious, do you intend to use round balls too? (A v-slit filed in the top of the breech might be useful in that case.)

[rickevans]

Capchee...how can a nice crown be made with simple hand tools?

Catchem...yes, hopefully she shoots a big ol' lead round ball well. After I get my turtle front sight on, I'll see if using a filed notch will work. I need to check local smoothbore woods walk rules though...some do not allow any rear sighting helpers at all.

[Captchee]

a small round file , worked slowly around the muzzle will make a nice crown.
 or you can get a  rond cherry  thats larger then bore side and spin it

[ridjrunr]

Rick, What is the bore inside diameter? a mandrelled lapping stone would give a fine polish on the inside dia. machine shops use them sometimes to polish an inside chamfer of usually 60,82 or 90 deg.
I sent you a pm

ridjrunr

[Captchee]

Rick, What is the bore inside diameter? a mandrelled lapping stone would give a fine polish on the inside dia. machine shops use them sometimes to polish an inside chamfer of usually 60,82 or 90 deg.
I sent you a pm

ridjrunr

 yep or a siply mill cherry will also do it cleanly and evenly

[stude283]

Ok,
          I give up,whats a siply mill cherry,or a rond cherry?I would assume its a round stone mounted on a mandrel from the context.Did I guess right?A search on either one comes back empty.

[huntinguy]

Ok,
          I give up,whats a siply mill cherry,or a rond cherry?I would assume its a round stone mounted on a mandrel from the context.Did I guess right?A search on either one comes back empty.

try searching these names.

Ball Rotary Burr

Chamfer Tool

Also, proper application of a file can do it as well.

tools like such have been around for a long time.

[Fletcher]

[size=150]Captchee's knowledge is incredible, and his helpful personality beyond compare..... alas, his spelling leaves room for improvement - so you have to reach a bit to understand his language.  2 out of 3 ain't bad      [/size]

ps - I am not screaming, but I tried the large font button so I could read my screen better - it just makes the forum font bigger - but looking at it while typing is about a size 2 font - how do fix that???