doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Damascus explained

from Doctor Drew:



That seems to set well with Robert Chambers' view of carbon absorption from the forging process. You may be right, Doc.

jack

I picked up a nice Baker B grade today at a local gunshow. It has an interesting flaw in the twist pattern. The flaw is on the flat without the serial number (bottom flat in pic across from the numeral 6 in the serial number)



Robert, you have to ignore the dissenter as he gets pleasure out of your irritation.
[18] If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
[19] Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
[20] Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
[21] Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:18-21

VERY interesting Ross, I've never seen anything like that. May I add that to the 'Damascus Repairs and Restorations' album? Thanks! Drew

I thought this section was kind of interesting on my damascus barrels, any ideas? It looks like a place where two bands may have been joined (almost like a splice in rope).

Doug: is that your Meriden? I'd like to add that also and thanks! Drew

Drew-

Yes it is, and be my guest!

Doug

Drew,
You dont ever need to ask about using anything of mine. I appreciate your work.
Ross

Doug,
That is interesting, maybe we should have a thread about flaws in damascus patterns.
Ross

Ross-

I think it is very interesting! What is also interesting is that the fore end covers this spot, so the craftsmen may have actually skillfully placed these "flaw" where they would not be seen. My barrels were likely mass-produced in Belgium, at least as mass produced as damascus could have been. Yet still show evidence of human workmanship. I actually think such "imperfections" adds to the character (and hope they are only cosmetic for the sake of my fingers as I use this shotgun quite a bit). WW Greener reported that 18 pounds of prepared gun iron were required to weld an ordinary pair of 12 gauge barrels. Of course that represented the finest English damascus barrels. I would expect that the Belgian barrels on my shotgun were manufactured with the bottom line in mind. While cosmetics were likely of secondary concern (unless the placement of the imperfection was simply by chance), perhaps cosmetics were of sufficient concern that the craftsmen placed the imperfection in a location where it would not be seen.

Also, on my barrels in this spot you can see what appears to be the wire stub ends as the dots.

Doug

Mostly from English sources... there were at least 300 heating done per tube. A set of barrels would take 3 men two working days to complete. In conversations I have had, I have "heard" a lot of speculation about auto-hammers, etc, but no one has been able to document their use by the damascus makers...

I am guessing... the small "flaw" could simply be an unevenness in the original pieces that made up the billet. A bit of iron over laps the steel where it shouldn't.

There is so much more work to do. We really have not documented, speculate yes, why it all stopped. Was it the rising labor rates, the lack of raw materials, a shift in the economy, buyers simply stopped buying damascus, people simply stopped buying doubles, take your pick....

How important was the American market? Did the tariff wars in congress have an impact on the trade? If they did and the Belgians were the winners, who lost? Was there a Spanish or Italian center for damascus barrels? Who were those makers? We see German guns with damascus tubes. Where the Germans buying the tubes or making their own damascus.

Many other questions....

Pete