1751-1810, Unknown, Warranted, Smoothbore Percussion Fowling Piece

[smithy]

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We tried several times to create a brass hinge assembly, but without the original reference, we couldn't find a simple way to tuck in the round cap when open without significantly altering the wood stock. After discussing with the owner, we decided to make the cover more static for now, while still allowing for the cap to be removed and modified later if necessary.

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We've applied a generous layer of boiled linseed oil, removed the excess, and allowed it to dry. There's still a bit more work to do, but we're quite pleased with the progress, especially since this firearm was inoperable and merely held together by wires just a week ago.

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[smithy]

We've reached the final stage of our reconditioning project - the barrel. As shown in the image below, there's quite a bit of work left to do. After taking a rust bath and running a brush through it to clear out the big pieces, you can see the barrel has been neglected for a long time. It appears we'll need to hone the bore to get it back into shape.

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Here's the harder truth to digest: we suspect the barrel might be slightly bent upward near the muzzle. We're not completely certain since these barrels were hand-forged, and the outside doesn't always reflect the true shape, but the bore itself has been drilled straight. As we come across more of these scenarios, it's clear we need a more effective method to scan and create an image of a small caliber bores. We plan to do more testing and will share the results soon.

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[smithy]

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If you've tackled barrel cleaning before, you're aware there's no quick fix; it demands patience and time to achieve the right results. Honing a barrel works on the same principle. Select the appropriate diameter hone, generously apply oil, and commit to spending ample time removing years of accumulated rust and grime.

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Our approach starts with honing with oil, followed by cleaning with boiling water, then honing with oil again, cycling through these steps several times.

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With patience, you begin to achieve a more uniform internal surface within the barrel. Since we haven't decided if we'll use this firearm again, we've opted to pause here and prepare it for long-term storage. The process concludes with a light wax application for preservation. Should we decide otherwise, we can proceed with additional honing cycles.