OK, I have a William Evans 12 bore from 1897, action by W C Scott. Who was likely to have made the beautiful (black & & white damascus) barrels?
Any clues on what to look for on the barrels themselves?
Some higher end barrels are marked K or Kilby. Not sure if Scott used other, though.
At the time you're gun was made almost all barrels were being sourced from Belgium. Scott would have been no exception.
Marshall of Wednesbury provided a lot of barrel tubes but there were others in the Black Country. I think 'almost all' is a bit strong. Birmingham tubes were still very much in evidence.
Well, Daryl, I can't find a K. The only odd mark on the barrels I can find is 7D.
Whether or not this sidelock is "Best" or not is not for me to say, but whoever did stike the barrels, British or Belgian, did a beautiful job.
Thanks for the added information, Dig. As always, your contribution is interesting and educational.
Read the report written by Mr Thomas Webley and Mr Smith Casson manager of the Earl of Dudley's Round Oaks Iron Works cira 1880 .Reprinted in Akehurst's "Game Guns and Rifles" Mr Webley was not too impressed with the quality of Belgian made damascus of the time .
Gunman is right about the quality control variations in the UK and Belgium regarding barrel making. The report he quotes noted that the Belgians aimed for fine figure and were not much interested in strength. The English barrels were often less figured but stronger. this was corroborated by tests done with available barrel tubes by the Birmingham proof house. English barrels, even cheap ones scored high in comparison with even the best and most expensive Belgian tubes. However, Belgian tubes were certainly widely used by all the gunmakers of the time, including Purdey. They were clearly serviceable and the distinction now is largely academic.
Can you or anyone supply proof that Purdey or W.C. Scott ever used Belgium made barrels ?
At the time you're gun was made almost all barrels were being sourced from Belgium. Scott would have been no exception.
I think 'almost all' is a bit strong.
Way over the top.
(Someone show Joe the picture of W.& C. Scotts very large gun factory).
BTW, not that Belgium supplied tubes, not barrels. Quite different things!
Not much doubt that some of the smaller English makers and most all American gun makers of the period sourced cheap Belgium made tubes for their barrels.
W&C Scott made tubes and continually fought the Belgium gun makers for stealing his ideas and the use of his name I can't see him buying tubes from the same bunch of scoundrels.
The 1879 Webley report can be viewed here
https://docs.google.com/document/edit?id=1eiRIMUaG-dpdIv02IwxchhL8m9zlLNu-Ek2GYbtCgbY Best I can do jOe
From
Purdey the Definitive History by Donald Dallas
James Purdey II in the 1880s - "... weight for weight (Whitworth) steel is stronger than iron and shoots harder, though not of so handsome an appearance as damascus barrels..." He preferred Belgian damascus "...not that when thorough sound English damascus can be obtained they are not superior, but because Belgian workmen are more careful than English, and there is thus less risk of slag and rubbish getting into the welds."
Kilby examples
http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/21596890