DD:
Though I could have made two mortars, I didn't really want two mortars that would have been essentially alike, and as I said in my previous reply, I wanted to see if my lathe (and me) could handle stock that big.
As for still being able to make two mortars by making a screw in breech plug, well, that proposition has two big problems. First, I do not have the equipment to do something like that. Secondly, I, unfortunately, am far removed from the skill level required to make a screw in breech plug, or to thread the mortar for that plug.
As for making a mortar and trading the left over piece---that thought never occurred to me. I would have figured those of you on this forum with the equipment and skill to make cannons and mortars, like are so often the subject of a thread, would have, or have access to, just about whatever stock you might desire. However, I will file this concept away in my memory banks for any future possibilities.
Smoothbore