One way to judge quality is by
strength as evaluated in the
Birmingham Proof House Test of 1893, which is reproduced on p. 26 of the Jan/Feb 06'
Double Gun Classics e-zine
http://www.doublegunclassics.com/alt/DGCJanFeb06.pdfThere appears, however, to be little practical difference between the top barrels tested.
Barrels were tested with increasing loads, starting with the standard Birmingham proof load of 182 grains powder and 1 2/3 oz shot (80-100 % over standard ‘Field’ loads.) Loads were increased each subsequent shot to the 12th test load of 358 grain powder with 3 ¼ oz shot!
Any bulge, which usually occurred 13”-24” from the breech, was considered failure.
The strongest barrels were:
1. English machine forged 3 rod Laminated steel
2. English fluid compressed steel, Whitworth process (fluid steel)
3. English machine forged 2 rod Best Damascus
4. English steel Siemens - Martin process (fluid steel)
*5. English hand forged 4 rod Best Damascus
6. English machine forged 2 rod variegated Damascus
*7. English machine forged 3 rod Best Damascus
8. English carburised steel, Darby’s method
9. English machine forged 2 rod Laminated steel
10. English “Superior Barrel Steel”
*11. English machine forged chequered 3 rod Damascus
*12. Foreign steel, Siemens – Martin process
*13. English steel, hematite process, from pig and scrap
18. Foreign Pointille’ Twist
24 & 25. Foreign 3 rod and 4 rod Crolle’
26. English machine forged 4 rod “Boston” Damascus
32. English machine forged 2 rod “Boston” Damascus
* - Judged by the Guardians of the Birmingham Proof House to be tied for first place in the second phase destructive testing (bursting or a bulge of .01”)