doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Minimum wall thickness

Take it all with a grain of salt. The graph Drew posted is from the 1890's as is the wall thickness diagram that I posted. The DuPont info is from the 1930's. They were using lead crushers!

I have great respect for Bell's work. I am also aware his sample size is very small.

Modern barrel designers know the pressures at various points and choose the appropriate steels.

As Quail Hunter 101 points out, there are differences in the max pressures and the steels used over time. Chroming a barrel not will increase the pressures it will handle.

In the end, we are dealing with 100+ year old guns and trying to make informed decisions. Decisions regarding safety for the gun and ourselves. I regularly shoot damascus barrels, others refuse. Learn as much as you can and then make an informed decision.

Pete

The ICP published a list of minimum barrel thicknesses for three types of steel classified according to the steel ISO specs. THe diagram gives dimensions for gauges 12, 16 and 20. The graphs are a little confusing and the minimum thickness surprisingly thin compared to actual wall thickness. On the other hand, a barrel is not built to a bare minimum thickness based on pressure and steel strength. A safety factor as well as future honing and bluing is taken into account when designing a gun.

SGL: It was my hope that someone else would ask so I would not be forced to display my ignorance, BUT what is ICP? Could you provide a link? A summary of the recommendations? Thank you.

Then of course there's always this to consider:



Burst is about 11" or 12" in front of the breech...Geo

Pictures of burst barrels are always scary things to look at. But the question always has to be asked: what caused the disaster? The most likely cause is probably an obstruction in the barrel, in which case even relatively thick barrel walls might not prevent catastrophic failure.

I think all damascus barrels with minimum wall thickness of less than .040 are extremely dangerous and should be left to those who collect them as non-firing relics. And since they are so useless they are terribly overpriced. It is common knowledge that when they were built they were full of flaws and over the past century or so the metal has deteoriated and weakened further. They're nothing but time bombs waiting to remove useful parts of your body.

Thanks to all who have commented and increased my understanding of the issue. This is a great site for us double gun nuts!!!!

Joe,

That is why I offer a free disposal service. Simply send me those nasty damascus guns and you will never have to worry.

Pete

ICP is the international commission of proof, an association of national proof houses and includes most european gunmaking nations.

You mean the Commission Internationale Permanente (C.I.P.) pour l'�preuve des armes � feu portatives or
Permanent International Commission(the CIP) for the Proof of Small Arms
http://www.cip-bobp.org/

Pete