Hello Roger, thought you might be along!
Yes, it’s cold drawn seamless and it measures 1.590” inside diameter so it needs 0.035” to be removed, that is to say 17½ thou. from each side. Rather too much for honing so some form of boring out first is indicated. Given the size I really need either a gunsmith who still makes punt guns, or someone who works for the Royal Ordinance! (Does it still exist? I know they closed Woolwich Arsenal and the Waltham Abbey Gunpowder Works because I bought stuff at the auctions).
Leaving the bore as it is would be OK if springs were going to be fitted, there is plenty of room for the bottom tube. If it was wished to preserve the air springing however then the problem of strange sized piston seals etc rears its head.
Oh! Yes! I do know what you mean about work, I spent over 20 years devising and making equipment for research work despite best the efforts of self serving dorks in suits more interested in their status and politicking than the job!
It’s not only John Wilkinson that is unsung, who remenbers Rosalind Franklin?
Many will know the following little tale which pretty well sums up my jaundiced opinion of managements.
A man is flying a hot air balloon and realises that he is lost. He reduces height and spots someone below.
“Hello! I have to meet some friends but have no idea where I am; can you help me?” he calls.
The man below tells him; “You are in a hot air balloon hovering approximately 30ft above this field in a location 51 degrees 31 minutes north and 0 degree 31 minutes east.”
“You must be an engineer.” said the balloonist.
“I am,” replied the man, “how did you know?”
“Well,” said the balloonist “everything you have told me is technically correct, but I have no idea what to make of your information, I’m still lost and still likely to be late for my rendezvous.”
The man below then said; “You must be a manager.”
“I am,” replied the balloonist, “but how did you know?”
“Well,” said the man below “you don’t know where you are or how to get where you need to be. You have made a promise which you have no idea how to keep, and you expect me to solve your problems. The fact is you are in exactly the same position that you were before we met but now somehow it has become my fault!”
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