doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com How to determine if my barrel is damascus or stee?

I have a set of barrels from my W C Scott circa 1877. I have sanded the brown off and I am not certain if they are damascus or steel. This is the gun that is missing the top rib. I have placed some vinegar on the barrels, however I see no distinct pattern.

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Regards,

Max

Post some pictures.

The first Purdey Pair Nos. 10614 & 10615 were delivered January 1, 1880 with the "New Whitworth Fluid Pressed Steel" so the original barrels were certainly pattern welded; likely 3 iron crolle or laminated steel.
What jOe said - ultra close up high resolution, but it is very difficult to discern the pattern of barrels 'in the white.'

Drew, these are the original barrels for sure. So is pattern welded or laminated steel one and the same as damascus.

Thanks

Pattern Welded shotgun barrels can be classified into three general categories, all starting with strips of iron and steel, but with different manufacturing methodology:

Twist - thin ribbons of layered iron and steel which were NOT twisted before being wrapped around the mandril and hammer forged.
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dfg2hmx7_40dxk2scc7

Crolle Damascus in many patterns which are determined by how the iron and steel were 'piled' or layered in the billet and the twisting of the rods.
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dfg2hmx7_163vgh5prdf
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dfg2hmx7_180c83rvwg4

Laminated Steel - a higher ratio of steel to iron mixed together and �puddled� before being formed into rods.
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dfg2hmx7_52fs85cfgt

Please look around here: http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/20258609

and http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/18059733