doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Damascus and Twist warning?

This may have been asked before but; what year did the ammo companies start putting the warning "Do not fire these shells in Damascus or Twist barrel guns" on the shell boxes?

Thanks,
Jack K

Probably about the same time they figured out the old guns they had sold years before were, by virtue of their durability, a drag on their ability to sell new ones.

I believe it was in the early 50's

"Ditto"

I don't know when the warnings appeared on ammmo boxes. I know that articles started appearing in the early '30's that all damascus guns where unsafe. Which is interesting because they were still being produced in Belgium.

Pete

Gents,

Thanks for your answers. The 1930's is what I was thinking also about the warnings in gun articles and I guess the shell boxes were soon after that, however I did not know. Some of the last damascus barreled guns were made in the 1920's on special order by Parker and Ithaca. I have 2 Ithacas, one made in 1909 with damascus barrels and the other in 1912 with with twist barrels. I know they were catalog items (at that time) and both guns are marked "Nitro Powder Proved" on the barrels. I did not know about damascus still being produced in Belgium during the 1930's; somehow I thought WW1 brought an end to damascus production and any guns made with those barrels after that were from left over stock.

Jack K

Jack,

I believe they produced damascus right up to the occupation in Dec 1940. I have seen a twin to the 1924 movie that was made in 1934. I know the allies bombed Liege because of the trains. I have never heard of any damage done to Nessonvaux where they actually made the damascus barrels.


Pete

You've probably noticed that even RST prints that Damascus and Twist Steel disclaimer on their shotshell boxes. It is simply a matter of liability and their insurance carrier probably insists on it. Of all the ammunition companies out there one would think RST would be exempt from this simply due to the kinds of guns used by the clientele they manufacture their stuff for.

You certainly don't see it on British made cartridge boxes. Just the warning regarding proof status and chamber length. Lagopus.....

I certainly don't have the answer to the question, and I don't own any of the old two piece shell boxes; but I do have a one-piece box of 2 7/8" 28 gauge Remington Nitro Express shells that I think is from the late 1940's with this inscription under the top flap "These shells must not be used in guns having Damascus or Twist Steel barrels". This box is not dated; but all labels are white with green borders, and on the front is a Remington Dupont logo in a red circle. All shells are roll-crimped.