Now That's an Anvil

[peter nap]

A friend of mine just sent me a picture of one of Va's famous gun makers, forging a barrel at Dixon's gun fair. Love the anvil!

 

[Sweany]

that's a swedge block

 

[jhiggins]

Love to have a swedge block, but all the ones I find are either beat to death or the owner is asking too much for it.

 

[Raymond Richard]

Jeff, Try to buy one new.......

 

[Wild Rose]

that's a swedge block

Maybe in other trades but in the muzzleloading gunmaking world it's known as a barrel anvil or buffalo head and has been called such since at least the 16th century.

 

[J. Neilson]

Damn, I saw about a hlf dozen of thos ein good shape last year at an estate sale and had no idea what they were for. Gotta keep the old eyes peeled now.

 

[MJ Hofbauer]

I went to Dixen's and watched that. Was alot of fun, but boy those barrels are ugly when they are finished hammering them out. If I didn't see it, I'd have never guessed what one was. After hammering, and drilling they ream it and then off to the rifling machine. Takes about 3000+ passes for each barrel. And those are iron, not steel. Sheesh.

J, if you get one, and are crazy enough to give it a try, I'm stupid enough to help so give me a call! Actually, I'm stupid enough to try anything, so whatever hairbrained ideas you come up with I'm game. P.S. Mind if I hunt for Bobcat on your land? I was thinking of paying the $5 for the lottery pull.

-MJ

 

[Wild Rose]

MJ -
Once rifled those barrels will then get ground and draw filed to shape - swamped octagon for 17th century rifles - a swamped barrel is tapered from the breech to about 9" from the muzzle and then flared again to the muzzle.
To see some of the finest guns available see Eric Kettenburg's site at http://www.firelocks.com/page2.html

For anybody interested in making such guns see http://www.americanlongrifles.com/american-longrifles-BBS-frame.htm

 

[J. Neilson]

Sure Matt, come on up. I think we have three on the hill but, however many, I can hear them scream some nights, so they're here. Man, talk about a sound that will raise the hair on you neck....bobcats in heat.

 

[Sweany]

Chuck, thanks I never heard that term before.