Custom Fabbri Barrels
I received this question today concerning a Custom set of Fabbri barrels in Joseph Brazier SolidSolid™ .
An example of a Joseph Brazier SolidSolid™ barrel made from a single piece of VAC steel.
Message: I am looking to order a set of barrels for my Fabbri. 30 inch’s teague choked. Please let me know if you can make these…. How do we work on barrel weight and dimensions? Approximately how much are CAD charges?
In response:
If a barrel is a SolidSolid™ complex like the John Wilkes or James Purdey O/U lets say, CAD and Drawings is about $3,000.00. So it runs between $2,000.00 (sxs) and $3,000.00 as a rule with tolerances on working drawings respective to the material used.
Karl Lippard here hand finishing a SolidSolid™ one piece barrel for a John Wilkes O/U.
Some of the problem in reversing a “hand made” barrel is that it is neither straight, square or centered. I have to fix this for production or if a “One OFF”, match it to fit. If for production with a case hardened material action as example, the barrel will be made slightly over size to be fit to that. Perhaps 250 microns ++ tolerance. Weight is less as a rule with VAC material. Everyone today seems to want long barrels but light. This is a contradiction. But we do have areas to add weight and remove it in the bore diameter, top and side ribs and under the forend.
With a weight specified I can look in CAD and do a mass analysis of the barrel with the material selected. I know exactly what it weighs. A finished barrel will be the same within a few grams depending on finish tolerances.
Joseph Brazier, Ltd.