I have a set of damascus barrels that have a very nice deep etch. The barrels are in very good shape and the bores are a bit dark but don't appear to have any deep pitting. They do however, have straight rifleing in both barrels. I plane to breech these barrels for use on a sxs flintlock but am concerned about the deep etch. When I fit breech plugs I usualy file the plugs down to the barrel size and often go a bit more to reduce the chamber flair. If I do this, how can I reinstate the deep etch to the pattern to match the balance of the barrels?? I don't really want to remove the entire pattern. I could fit the breeches without touching the barrels I suppose but a good transition would be difficult to achieve (but possible). Also, is there any reason, other than novelty, to leave the straight rifleing in the barrels?. If i ream the rifleing out I can clean up the bores to like new (but the straight rifleing is kinda funky and you don't see it everyday). Thoughts.

Cody:

As for filing the breech, you could try protecting the barrels with a layer of stainless steel heat treat foil. It is about .002" thich and pretty tough. A layer of foil glued to the barrel along with careful work should get it done without serious bloodshed.

The straight rifled barrels are pretty cool. You might try lapping the bores and see how they clean up. Nothing to loose, as you can always ream and polish later.

Glenn

COOL!!!!, where can some of this foil be obtained??? I agree on the rifleing. Anyone have any experience shooting shot with straight rifleing????

I believe Brownell's carries the foil.

Briley's most expensive full-length fitted sub-gauge tubes come with straight "rifling" (that term always struck me as odd; I thought "rifling", by definition, was spiral, not straight), so it must work pretty well (or at least it does no harm).

Cody:

The SS foil is expensive because you have to buy a roll of it. If you write to me direct I can send you enough to do the job. BTW, for anybody who might handle this stuff, the cut edges are razor sharp. Nasty stuff. Think about the pretty coiled wire on top of the fences at the local Correctional Facility.

As for the straight rifling, I read about it being experimented with in modern shotguns as an attempt to tighten patterns. Apparently the thinking was that the polishing marks in the barrel tended to spin the shot charge, which would be a Bad Thing for patterns.

In this case I expect the idea was more about fouling management. There is a school of thought that rifling was developed in just such a manner. Someone came up with the idea of a grooved barrel to make loading easier, and then someone else made the leap to spiral grooves and we had the first rifle.

Glenn

gfewless@tds.net

Neat Cody! May I add that pic to the 'Damascus Barrels' PictureTrail?

Absolutely

Thanks Cody-the pic is up
http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery.fcgi?p=999&gid=16082038
Is there a maker's name on the barrels?

(BTW:my PM STILL doesn't work )

I'd like to hear more about the gun....pics of the bores and gun would be nice.

The gun is a wreck and shows LOTS of evidence of backyard "gunsmithing". It's off face about double what shows in the pictures. The top rib says "NIK.SZAILER COMP.WIEN". No other markings. I couldn't get a good pic of the bores.

Thanks Cody!

It has prospect....I saw a nice lamp made from a SXS.

Cody, On some digital cameras you can mash the shutter button half way down and freeze the focus. Focus on the white desk top then slowly move the camera so it looks down the barrels and mash the button all the way.