Thank you all for your replys. Most helpful.
Kubur: So we have identified this as an Italian made barrel, and it's maker's dates of activity would seem to place this barrel about the turn of the 18th Century. Which makes it earlier than most encountered. Very neat. I can now read the number 152 (upside down) on the bottom flat between the names. The top of the barrel originally had 5 stamps that were all originally gold filled.
Corrado: Thanks for the additional information. The writing on top of the barrel does look more Greek than Arabic. Maybe another Forum member can tell us.
With this evidence, I'm more likely to think this barrel was originally mounted to a Greek Rasak or Kariophili musket. I can tell by the threads in the breech plug tang hole that it was originally mounted to a gun.
Kubur: To clean the barrel, all I did was use Kroil penetrating oil and oooo steel wool, finishing with a degreaser. There was really no rust on the barrel. Just dirt/grime. So it cleaned very easy. I still have to clean the inside. Here is what the barrel looked like when I received it. Imagine my surprise when I started to clean and all the silver starting to appear. WOW !!!
Thanks again for the help. Rick
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