There was a time I had this information readily available in my memory, but now it is easier to just ask.

Yes, I do remember the obvious, such as 12-70, 18.3, choke, etc.
Cannot recall date/era of marks and any other specifics you might discern from these.

Thanks in advance!



Additional pictures with other barrel markings.

I believe they refer to it as a Rampant Lion over the PV mark is a smokeless powder proof. This would NOT be proofed for SAAMI spec shells.

Normally on a Belgian gun, the word choke means it has at least 0.2 mm (.008") constriction. If the actual amount of choke is specified it will normally be written as a fraction IE 18.5/18.3 which would indicate 0.2 mm of choke. I would have to dig out some books to give the date this style of marking was used, but do not be surprised if at least one barrel, maybe both, is a full choke.

The 18.2 was likely marked at a preliminary proof & then the bore polished enlarging it to 18.3 prior to final proof. This would indicate a bore a bit under nominal .729" @ .720".

e = 1926

http://www.shotguns.se/html/belgium.html

Given that it does have the smokeless powder proof and other modern (post-1924) 2 3/4" proofs, I wouldn't hesitate to shoot reasonable SAAMI spec loads in it. I'd certainly feel safe with something like RST's 1 1/4 oz 2 3/4" pheasant load at 1200 fps. That's probably about where I'd draw the line.

Prior to 1924, the 12g Maximum Service load was about 1 1/4 oz. / 3 1/4 Dram Eq. (1220 fps).

After the proof house revisions of 1924, a Certificat d’epreuve could be issued and specified:
“The pressure developed, measured by crusher type device, lower or equal to 600 kg per square centimeter for sizes 16, l2, 10, 8 & 4; 670 kg per square inch for sizes 20, 24 and smaller.”
600 kg/cm2 = 8534 psi maximum SERVICE pressure;
670 kg/cm2 = 9530 psi maximum SERVICE pressure
+ 10 - 14% by piezoelectric transducer measurement
(Very similar to modern load pressures)
12g PROVED at 900 kg/cm2 = 12,801 psi; or about 14,000 psi


BTW: the barrels are décalcomanie Faux Damascus; fairly late for that embellishment.
The Crown over D indicates that the tubes were by Delcour-Dupont of Nessonvaux, which became Canons Delcour which was registered in 1921, and remained in business until about 1968 when they were acquired by Fabrique National de Herstal.
Canons Delcour also supplied fluid steel tubes for Hunter Arms, Fox, and Ithaca NID (“Best Fluid Steel”) and Ithaca Lefever Nitro Special A-grades.

Thank you. That is the detail I am looking for.

Drew,

Clarification.
Are you saying these barrels are NOT damascus and are actually a fluid steel type?
Convincing a buyer of that may be difficult. I wonder if blacking the barrels would increase or decrease value and sales appeal. Would clearly detract from the history.

I have this shotgun stripped apart at the moment. An interesting mix of fine workmanship and 'Good enough'.

Stock wood is very good quality with nice figure.
Checkering is very fine and done well. (Except for some bits added at some point. I will be removing that.....)
Inletting is very well done. Even with oil soaking the head it has no splits or cracks.

Metal is nicely fitted and decently engraved. Where it can be seen.
Internals of action are nicely fitted, but portions that don't need fitting were left rough.
Unseen parts of trigger mechanism works perfectly but looks like they were filed up by a monkey.

Forward of the flats the pattern is a perfect match comparing right to left, and has been mostly rubbed off on the left barrel flat.
It is my opinion that the barrels are NOT pattern welded, but either Decarbonized or (more likely) Fluid Steel. Canons Delcour made Fluid Steel tubes for the U.S. market, and was willing to put their mark on these tubes
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Yn-0vx1pk19eHwzrfVTEdWz-dlL4VmbBLoH53uqGkFE/edit

This (was) a "Belgian Damascus Finish" courtesy of Brad Bachelder



You would certainly not be misrepresenting the barrels by blacking them

Drew,
Thank you for the information.

Like most of us here, I have heard of these 'fake damascus' barrels, but in the 20 years I have been visiting this site, reading other sources and buying damascus shotguns this is the first time I have knowingly held such.

This shotgun came to me from a local guy for a new pad, strip, clean and refinish of the wood. Once that is done he was going to make up his mind about consigning it for sale, as he is not really a SxS or damascus user. Maybe this information will change his mind.

Thanks again.

Hause:

Can you take Utah's image & annotate the area where you are led to believe the tubes are décalcomanie Faux Damascus?


Cheers,

Raimey
rse

Mike: could you please send me a full size high resolution image of about 9" of barrels just forward of the flats? By jpg attachment to revdoc2@cox.net and I'll work on it.

Many thanks Hause for effort on the décalcomanie Faux Damascus education.


Cheers,

Raimey
rse

Drew,

Spent a week with my daughter in the UP and thought this thread had come to an end. Just saw it today. Posting some pics here, but will also email to you.

Shotgun that the barrels are attached to.

Drew,

Sent you four pictures.
File sizes were BIG, so let me know if they don't make the trip through the matrix.

Interesting. Has to be pretty late Damascus. 1926 date code, and no indication of any reproof marks.

Sorry for the delay in responding, and I received the images just fine. Still recovering from another relaxing long weekend in Guatemala, and thought some might enjoy this. Was in the middle-of-nowhere SE Guatemala doing a Bible, food & clothing distribution and preaching, and this kid had a KC Royals t-shirt!



More here
http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/24823922

I'll work on Mike's images and get something up soon.

Michael sent full size high resolution images, which unfortunately are resized here when posted



Comparing both tubes in this section, the pattern is a perfect match, which does not occur in pattern welded production. Wish I could be more specific, but the coloring just doesn't look "real".

Doc
Blessing be upon thee
Mike