How is "bbl" short for "barrel"?

[oz]

Along the lines of why is "lbs" short for "pounds".

Anyway, I've always been curious if there was an explanation for bbl=barrel.

I figured a barrel forum would be a pretty good place to ask.

Oz

[jchtrh]

Pretty interesting history behind this.

In the early 1860's, when oil production began, there was no standard container for oil, so oil and petroleum products were stored and transported in barrels of all different shapes and sizes (beer barrels, fish barrels, molasses barrels, turpentine barrels, etc.). By the early 1870's, the 42-gallon barrel had been adopted as the standard for oil trade. This was 2 gallons per barrel more than the 40-gallon standard used by many other industries at the time. The extra 2 gallons was to allow for evaporation and leaking during tranport (most barrels were made of wood). Standard Oil began manufacturing 42 gallon barrels that were blue to be used for transporting petroleum. The use of a blue barrel, abbreviated "bbl," guaranteed a buyer that this was a 42-gallon barrel.

So, it actually was used for the container, not for a firearm.

[mtbugle]

now that was something I did not know. Good history.
Thanks Don.

[GLSHOOTER]

Mar 11, 2012 0:22:01 GMT -8 jchtrh said:

Pretty interesting history behind this.

In the early 1860's, when oil production began, there was no standard container for oil, so oil and petroleum products were stored and transported in barrels of all different shapes and sizes (beer barrels, fish barrels, molasses barrels, turpentine barrels, etc.). By the early 1870's, the 42-gallon barrel had been adopted as the standard for oil trade. This was 2 gallons per barrel more than the 40-gallon standard used by many other industries at the time. The extra 2 gallons was to allow for evaporation and leaking during tranport (most barrels were made of wood). Standard Oil began manufacturing 42 gallon barrels that were blue to be used for transporting petroleum. The use of a blue barrel, abbreviated "bbl," guaranteed a buyer that this was a 42-gallon barrel.

So, it actually was used for the container, not for a firearm.

You do a lot of reading during those long Alaskan nights don't you James? ;D

Greg

[oz]

Mar 11, 2012 0:22:01 GMT -8 jchtrh said:

Pretty interesting history behind this.

NICE! That's some great info. Blue Barrel.

[Deleted]

I've often wondered the same! Thanks James. ;D