Hey Bert, have a look here, please

[BPTactical]

It appears that this barrel was recrowned.
First guess is a non piloted crowning tool or a piloted one that seized up.

Second guess would be a false muzzle that was either too loose or spun in the barrel.
If it was the former there is no better testament for crowning with a single point tool, if the latter it's just poor form.

Curious what your thoughts are Mark.

[MarkCO]

It appears that this barrel was recrowned.
First guess is a non piloted crowning tool or a piloted one that seized up.

Curious what your thoughts are Mark.

Your first guess is what I thought when I saw it. I guess it is possible it was made that way, but some research on the gun make would reveal that. I know there are muzzle loaders that are rifled, and then the last inch is back bored and they don't seem to lose accuracy.

[BPTactical]

Your first guess is what I thought when I saw it. I guess it is possible it was made that way, but some research on the gun make would reveal that. I know there are muzzle loaders that are rifled, and then the last inch is back bored and they don't seem to lose accuracy.

On a smokepole that is done to facilitate easier loading. With the projectile being patched and all contact with the rifling the patch doesn't know the difference in bore diameter and has no effect on the ball.

I need to dig and see if I can find any reference to the work that was done to Tims barrel.
I love a mystery....