So With the snow and frozen ground I have been going absolutely nuts not being able to detect lately. So I was going through the back of my truck and made an interesting find that I almost threw out! I found this thing sticking straight up out of the ground at an old cellar hole. So I yanked it out to detect around it and never gave it a thought. It was obviously used as a stake at some point and smashed with a hammer, which is funny for what it is. I believe I found my first gun barrel, seems short though don't have an exact measure but some where around 26 inches?. Gotta set up a larger electrolysis bath for it here at some point and look for stamping. But there is 100 percent a dovetailed front sight on this sucker, cant really tell if there is rifling or not yet. Anyone aware of that short of a rifle in like a 38 ish caliber?(will take proper measurements later)
Don't laugh too hard at me now
- Thread starter Tpmetal
- Start date
Birddog1911
Senior Member
Bore is weird, but that definitely a dovetailed front sight!
Thats where they smashed it into the ground with a hammer haha. They messed up the face of that barrel real quick, mushroom status.
cellrdwellr
Elite Member
Looking down the barrel of a rifle is no laughing matter 
fantastic recovery!
fantastic recovery!Looking down the barrel of a rifle is no laughing matter
Haha thanks, glad I look at my trash twice. Last thing I almost threw out was a mouth harp when I first started detecting.
georgeinsc
Elite Member
By the shape i would venture to guess that it is the barrel for a muzzle loading rifle.
only it seems to be a muzzle loader? The other end is sealed as far as I can tell
Mud-puppy
Forum Supporter
Its so very Cool! I love it! Might have went through a fire?...
I keep looking at this picture..Right now, I'd be tempted to use a portion of this barrel...get out in my shop, bring it back to Life...build myself a a working rig out of it...take some other found various brass and wood and steel to do a sweet drop block modern cartridge .38 single shot or a front stuffed BP percussion pistol...
I'd use the rest to hammer flat, twist, and make some Damascus knives..I like old dirt found iron....its a real beauty!
I keep looking at this picture..Right now, I'd be tempted to use a portion of this barrel...get out in my shop, bring it back to Life...build myself a a working rig out of it...take some other found various brass and wood and steel to do a sweet drop block modern cartridge .38 single shot or a front stuffed BP percussion pistol...
I'd use the rest to hammer flat, twist, and make some Damascus knives..I like old dirt found iron....its a real beauty!
Is there a projectile stuck inside?
no idea, haven't tried to stick anything down it yet to see if it's clear.
Maybe? No idea what I'll do with it. Too many projects as it is at the moment.
metaladdict
Elite Member
That there is an interesting find.
It looks old!
It looks old!
GroundSweeper
Forum Supporter
That’s pretty dang cool!
Birddog1911
Senior Member
It's pretty rough, and I can't see the breech end worth a darn, but I almost wonder if it wasn't completed. That might be a little weird though, fitting a front sight when the breech isn't finished. That's usually a finishing touch.
Right, I had that thought. ill see what zapping it does when I find a container of size to stick it in.
I do make knives out of old 1800's and early 1900's saw mill blades. Haven't finished one in awhile though. Have two blanks ready for handles and finishing, gotta get on that.
BvM
Junior Member
Back in the day everyone made guns and tractors....Gun barrels were a dime a dozen. Surveyors used to use them to mark property corners, they were good iron, cheap, and easy access.
