Mike and I have been thinking about several different ways to have some fun, (rifling tubes is Fun) and generate some cash flow between commissions for our 'Magnificent Seacoast Series' of 1/6 scale Seacoast Guns. The two ideas we have been discussing so far have been Rifled Liners or Rifled Cannon Blanks for Bore sizes from 1" to 2.50".
We will see if there is any interest out there among the GBO membership by the interest shown in this thread. We better get cost out of the way first so we will not be charged with leading someone on. From our discussions with potential customers and other makers, we can't see any possibility of making a Quality liner, minimum thickness-.375", of top quality seamless tubing in a length up to 36" for less than $275 + shipping. And for a Rifled Cannon Blank which is a rifled tube with very thick walls that you or your machinist friend can lathe turn to replicate any cannon type you like, the starting cost would be $375 + shipping. Please remember that the $275 and $375 are starting points and that what you specify may cost more.
One more thing, we will not be welding anything, period. For cannon breeches, you need expert, not beginner, welding done and we don't need any more learning curves at this time. Crush fit threaded breech plugs with hemispherical internal radii will be fitted to all liners. All liners and cannon blanks will be properly reamed for a smooth, consistently sized bore, ready for rifling, and then rifled with straight or gain twist rifling at the customer's request.
The availability date is still too far off to be certain, but a good guesstimate would be approx. next Spring. We just had another 100 Pdr Parrott ordered and these Seacoast guns have priority over all else. We have several main assys. already built for it so probably 4 months would see it complete. It's planned to be started in Dec. 2011, so Liners and Cannon Blanks should be available in April, May or June of 2011.
Any questions, suggestions or comments are welcome on this thread.
Mike and Tracy