Images(2)

Burst gun barrel

Date1700-1750

OriginEngland, London

MediumIron/steel

DimensionsLength: 38 1/4" Breech width: 1 1/8" Exterior diameter at muzzle: 15/16" Bore: About 5/8"

Credit LineGift of Diane Rice

Object number2009-294

DescriptionGun barrel, burst at breech, of octagon to round section. Originally quite a bit longer (perhaps 13 to 15 inches?), it was shortened during its working life. While the brass blade front sight was moved to 1 1/2 back from the muzzle, the rear sight and three barrel pin loops remain dovetailed into their original positions. Another alteration is to the touch hole, which was relined with a threaded plug (now gone); certainly one of the factors is the dramatic failure of this barrel.Label TextThis barrel has certainly had a long and rough life! It started out at least a foot longer when it was built into an early 18th century English fowler or musket. During its working life, the front sight was moved back when it was drastically shortened. At some point during the last quarter of the 18th century or the beginning of the 19th., it was struck with a "US," denoting that the firearms it was incorporated was then property of the United States Army.

After years of service its vent (or touchhole) was blown out, so an iron plug was threaded into the breech so that another vent, of an appropriately small diameter, could be drilled. This alteration severely compromised the integrity of the barrel, resulting in the dramatic bursting of the breech. One can only hope that the unlucky person who fired it for the last time survived the explosion!

Inscription(s)What appears to be the name "Pehult" is engraved 3 1/2" inches from the breech.Mark(s)Its breech is struck with what appear to be 1702-style London proofmarks in addition to an illegible maker's mark and the initials "HP." On the top flat of the breech a 1/4" high "US" property mark is struck over a slightly smaller "67."