A heck of a blowout!
 

I just got a twist barreled lifter in that I bought for parts. I knew the barrel was “damaged”, but damn. This thing is wrecked.

Attachment 117420

Attachment 117421

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Attachment 117423

Ouch

Home proof test failure. Must have been a powerful load used.

That come from Sherman Bell’s shop??





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Soooo.......what are gonna do with it?

A little acra-glass, some dye added to it and judicious sanding and it'll be good as new. :whistle:

It is a parts gun.

id like to have those barrels if not spoken for.....charlie

I finally got around to stripping the frame that these barrels came off. I found that the frame had also been crack through damn near all the way to the bottom! Someone welded it back up in the past for cosmetic/display purposes I guess. This was one hell of a failure.

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Looks like the result of a double powder charge.





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Or a powder substitution

A 3 Dr. Eq. load of “E.C.” No. 1 or “Schultze” was 42 grains by weight. Upon introduction, 3 Dr. Eq. of Dense Smokeless Ballistite was 24 grains; Infallible 22 grains. (Later the powders were equivalent)

Substituting a Dense Smokeless powder for Bulk Smokeless powder would double the charge. It has been estimated that 50 grains of Infallible or Unique could reach 30,000 psi - which is where Bell's damascus and Vulcan barrels ruptured.

Good points Drew!





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Wow

Better retire that one. Hope there are some usable parts not damaged by that failure

Never having owned or really looked that close at a lifter, could top lever hammer gun barrels be fitted , or are the lugs different. Of course this guns welded frame would rule this gun out.

No. The lifter frames are shorter. By a lot.