AWFUL barrel stampings

[jimrbto]

I just got a new Lyman "Plains Pistol Kit" and judging from all the crap stamped on the barrel I will be draw filing for a long time. The three top flats have all manner of info stamped into them. I can see where this may come from but for me........
Do you think I can draw file these flats enough to remove all of it and not leave a freaky looking barrel?
Thanks
Jim

 

[Old Fuff]

Having not seen the barrel I can't say, but you can trace the problem to the manufacturer's lawyers and liability insurance company... :banghead:

Dixie Gun Works, among others, sell unmarked barrels and kits, as well as all of the rest of what's required. A (give or take) 700 page catalog is only $5.00, and filled with valuable information. Your kit may or may not be beyond help, but before you get involved with another front-feeder get a Dixie catalog.

www.dixiegunworks.com

 

[bender]

ha ha, I was just complaining about this exact same thing a week or 2 ago on another forum, except I was complaining about the Lyman Great Plains Rifle.

edit: I didn't know there were unmarked barrels available, that's interesting. I'll definately check into that.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

Lock/stock and bbl. needed

I'm contemplating building a side hammer m/l for next season. I do not want a kit. I want a quality lock/stock and bbl. with minimal fitting.

Any sugguestions?

 

[Old Fuff]

Again, one of the oldest companies in the business:

www.dixiegunworks.com

They charge $5.00 for a 700-page catalog, filled with anything you might need. Most of the work building a gun is woodwork.

 

[jimrbto]

Old Fuff,
Thanks. I have a copy of Dixie Gun Works catalog, now please tell me how I USE IT to get all these extraneous stampings off of my gun barrel! !
Jim

 

[Old Fuff]

I have a copy of Dixie Gun Works catalog, now please tell me how I USE IT to get all these extraneous stampings off of my gun barrel! !

Well you can draw file the marks off, but keeping the flats even is difficult, and it may make a poor fit between the wood and metal. I would consider doing this first anyway, and see how it turned out. If it didn't I'd see if Dixie had another barrel that wasn't an instruction book, that might work as a substitute. You will find them to be knowledgeable and very helpful people.

Then the next time I wanted to buy or build a front-stuffer I see if Dixie didn't offer something with a barrel that wasn't a billboard.

I feel for ya'. All of this writing on barrels is, in my view, unnecessary and a pain in the backside. The people they are trying to reach won't bother to read it. Just more bliss-nanny stuff. :banghead:

 

[4v50 Gary]

Personally I wouldn't want to spend my time draw filing it and would learn to live with it. The purpose of the kit is to learn a little about assembly and to have a great time shooting the gun which you built.

 

[bender]

personally, it's a huge turnoff for me. If I was choosing between 2 rifles, and one had less writing all over the barrel, I'd chose that one. If we just live with it, maybe a couple years from now the entire rifle will be covered by the instruction manual - on the barrel, the stock, the buttplate...

 

[DrLaw]

You did not mention, but...

Were you planning on browning the barrel?

I had a Junkars Derringer kit and it had markings on the barrel that looked just awful. I tried sanding them down some with emery paper and buffing it with a buffer head on a moto tool and buffing compound. The markings were still there.

However, when I browned the barrel, the markings vanished from sight!

I couldn't believe it, but that happened. Since there was no serial number on it, as it was a kit, but rather the name of the manufacturer, the caliber and the model type (Philadelphia Derringer), I was not too concerned with the markings going away.

The Doc is out now.

 

[jimrbto]

I started to build my first pistol when neighbors moving away gave me a box of old flint pistol parts. Nothing complete. For the next year I pestered every gunsmith in upstate NY. Many little towns there and every one had a gunsmith. Every one of these gentle - men were willing to give of their time and resources to help a kid. All the more generous when that kid was not a paying customer, ever. Between them and their help I was able to turn one of those old pieces into a shooter by making parts and long hard work because I only had hand tools. When I had finally finished making the upper jaw and screw for it I took it with me to see my favorite smith and he helped me load and fire the first shot with it, WOW!!! I will never forget that!
What was really special is that during all that year not one of them ever failed to give me an answer or refer me to someone who could. Always helped.

When anything wasn't right not one of them ever said "Learn to Live With It".

I consider that expression reserved for the governments of England, Australia, Canada and a few other countries who's peoples aren't allowed to have guns when they ask for a reason.

Gun kits are a lot more than something to learn with. They are a form of convenience. If you have ever made a shopping list for, an as near as possible copy of a Golden Age rifle with all the trimmings, you know that it is quite long and sometimes hard to fill. A company that can put together everything in a package for you makes things a lot easier, even then you have to consider options and whether or not you have chosen the right part to be period, location and gun maker true.

I have been making rifles and pistols ever since that time when I was only 14, and I am now 72. I make everything as authentic as possible and try to copy at least one maker every year.

I will never "Learn to live with it".

 

[jimrbto]

I took the advice of a member of another site and did drawfile the barrel. It was easy and quick, I left only the ser. no. and the proof marks. The barrel after sanding w/600 looks perfect.