✅ SOLVED Ok. What is it contest!

[Tigerdude]

This Friday I am having this pistol barrel X-rayed by the local trade school. There is an obstruction approximately 2 inches long at the back of the barrel. The rusty pic is obviously when I first found it , the other after I cleaned it up. It was identified by NolaKen as a model 1823 flintlock barrel. I found it in civil war fire pit ( verified by the friction primer I found) I personally think some bored little Yankee stole the flintlock from the nearby plantation, jammed a bullet down the barrel, realized he couldn't fire it and threw it in the pit......or it could be 2 inches of rust. Anyway, I'll know Friday. Any other guesses? [ATTACH

 

[sawmill man]

Im in, i guess powder ,patch, ball and a big wad of crud. that should make about two inches worth

 

[d2]

I'm in and going with powder/patch and 2 round balls...d2

 

[flyadive]

I'm in.... ball extractor

 

[NOLA_Ken]

If I remember right it's .54 cal? A ball and powder charge would account for about 3/4 of an inch in there. So possibly double loaded. I would certainly hope it didn't go into a fire pit loaded.....

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

I personally think some bored little Yankee stole the flintlock from the nearby plantation, jammed a bullet down the barrel, realized he couldn't fire it and threw it in the pit.

Or they were destroying all the firearms they came across. My scoutmaster was in the Army of Occupation in Germany after WWII and told of all the beautiful flintlocks and engraved cartridge arms they confiscated, collected and smashed to pieces and then lined up the barrels along a street curb and drove a tank over them to bend them to useless scrap. :-(

 

[Tigerdude]

When I get the results, I'll post and marked it "solved"

 

[QUICKSILVER (appletree)]

is it a gun that has been loaded more than 1 time because the person carrying it forgot he had it loaded?

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Well when I load my muzzleloader with 100 grains of blackpowder and a patch and ball its about 2 inches.. add rust to that.... So Im not sure why it would have to be double loaded, but its certainly possible.

Blackpowder is extremely corrosive. So the possibllity exists that its simply loaded normally. I would first run water inside under pressure before I do anything and make sure the powder is unable to ignite/ I doubt a puller will pull it but maybe you could pound a rod into it to jar it loose.

The other possibility is those mud wasps. They will make a very strong plug.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I dont have a blackpowder measurement but here are some examples of Pyrodex.
View attachment 1463986 Pictured Left to Right: Pyrodex 30 grain Pellet, 50 grain Triple Se7en Pellet, 50 grain Pyrodex Pellet

So i think 100 grain plus the ball would be 2 inches in my estimation. And did I mention blackpowder is extremely corrosive?

 

[Mzjavert]

The obstruction is Bugs Bunny's finger. He stuck it into Elmer Fudd's gun.

 

[bigfish313]

When I get the results, I'll post and marked it "solved"

Please post a picture if you can.

 

[Tigerdude]

I'll keep yall in suspense. The trade school "shot" the pic this morning. Will be developed 2 pm CST today(right when LSU /Oregon State begins. ) I hope its something good.

 

[coinman123]

I am guessing that it is just rust. I hope it is something cool though, maybe some round balls .

 

[nhbenz]

Please post a picture if you can.

 

[Tigerdude]

Winner, winner , chicken dinner!

 

[Honest Samuel]

I am out because I am total confuse.

 

[sawmill man]

I won! i won! i cant belive it i never won anything before ,im so excited im not sure i spelled anything right ,where do i pick up my prize, i cant belive it.

 

[Tigerdude]

I have a 20 dollar gold piece for you, sawmill man. Problem is that I haven't found it yet.. good call.

 

[RustyGold]

Very cool x-ray! Where can I get that attachment for my detector. Lol!