Shortening a barrel?

[West Texan]

I have a Pedersoli Dixie Pennsylvania .45. Flintlock. It has 42 in barrel. I'm 5'3" I would like shorten the rifle by 6in.  I could do the stock work if someone could do a proper job on the barrel. That would include new front sight dove tail etc. with some care I might do this myself. It would be a risk, 

[hotfxr]

I would hate to see a fine 42" barrel harmed. Given the present day costs on these rifles, you might be money ahead to sell that one and pick up another rifle made with a 36" barrel. Just my humble  un-asked for opinion, thinking about all the machine work dealing with lugs, sights etc.

[Red Badger]

I would have to agree with Hotfxr ... Although someone just posted in the memorial section and so I am thinking of Dennis and his hacksaw right now....

[Blackfeet]

I have hacksawed a few of them, never looked back. To be fair, they all needed it. (it helps to have an on -site machine shop at your disposal)

[West Texan]

Thanks, this is all good advice. I do hate the idea of bobbin the rifle. There is just not enough room in my shooting bag for a stool. Just have to do what I always do, adapt by tilting rifle at an angle. 

[Papa]

I have several of the old Dixie Mountain rifles that have 42" barrels and are pretty stout. I picked up a lefty for the grandson and bobbed it to 36" and now I shoot it more than him. It changed the balance point considerably, as well as a little weight, and didn't hurt the accuracy at all. Nice comfortable rifle to carry and shoot. Sometimes value has to be determined by desire and ability to handle. I don't consider either of these rifles, Pedersoli or Dixie, to be collectibles.
Mark

[Hawken50]

   It all boils down to your preference there West Texan. Its not a collectors piece so i say if that's what ya want then shorten it up. Life to short to live with sumpthin you can change.
     Just ask my first wife. She made good biscuits but her behavior was terrible. lol

[Dogshirt]

On the other hand, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

[Blackfeet]

On the other hand (is there another hand?) if it don't fit, it won't be used or at least won't be enjoyed to the fullest.

[William]

I have a Pedersoli Dixie Pennsylvania .45. Flintlock. It has 42 in barrel. I'm 5'3" I would like shorten the rifle by 6in.  I could do the stock work if someone could do a proper job on the barrel. That would include new front sight dove tail etc. with some care I might do this myself. It would be a risk,

You might want to send Mongrel a PM and see if he might have time to do the entire job for you. As has been said, it's your rifle and you should be happy with it, but you want this to be done right. That's why I suggest have Mike or someone equally qualified to do the entire job at the same time. Then you will have a unique rifle that you love.

[West Texan]

William , good advice.

[mongrel]

Unfortunately Mongrel can't take on any work at this point in time or for the foreseeable future. I had to take a "real" job again due to serious financial problems looming on the horizon, if I continued barely making ends meet as a full-time gunsmith. The work is hard on my 51-year-old arthritic body, and the result is that I realistically have one day, maybe a little more, each week, that I can work on the jobs I took on before I realized I needed to get out of this game. It would be grossly irresponsible of me (and unfair to the customers who are still patiently waiting on guns and stock work) to take on anything, no matter how small, when I can't even guess at when it might get done.