What do I have???? (Photo Heavy)

Jeff, what kind of condition is the barrel in? Any rust ?Sorry that it's in the shape it's in but I've seen worse that have been brought back to a long lusterous life as long as the bore is not ruined.

I was worried someone would ask. I've been afraid to look. I don't have a proper borelight but was able to demount my Harbor Freight XR57B Xenon Max-Intensity Tack Tickle Threat Illuminator and more or less shine it down the bore. I can see spiral rifling and some crud that I can't differentiate between firing residue or something worse. I suppose that while I hose the outside down with Ballisol, I'll have to run some patches through the bore and see what comes out. I guess I'll need a bore snake in .45, right?
 
Last edited:
Reminds me of the old Reid Goldmine story where they used this big ol heavy rock as a door stop at their poor cabin...only to find out later it was a massive chunk of gold.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
You are in no rush to clean the bore ... it's sat around so long already. If you want to clean it though there's nothing wrong with running a bunch of Ballistol soaked patchs thru just remember its a black powder rifle and the bore will likely be dark but could still have decent rifling. That bayonet's condition, like the non-boogered screws, really has me wondering was this rifle used a lot or was it an arsenal dweller that saw little time in the field. If it's the latter of the two it would be good possibility to actually preserve it and fire it occasionally with light trapdoor loads. The biggest thing possible is to work with a light hand and not rush. I said bath in Ballistol because it would deal with the surface rust as well as start the process of freeing up the mechanicals and give some oils to the wood. Anytime I have messed with classics I do that so when I go to disassemble it things tend to allow things to be removed easier ... barrel bands slide easier, screws do not get boogered up, the cleaning rod sliding free, etc. In case I have stressed it enough ... do not rush.

I would also suggest you start looking for a proper scabbard and frog for the bayonet ... and also see what variation of bayonet you have ... some rarer one can be worth big money.
 
I thought the bayonet just slid off and reversed over the barrel and laid along side the front wood?
 
Back
Top Bottom