doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Chrome lined Damascus barrels?

Has anyone heard of this? I just got a Colt 1883 grade 2 fully engraved. The bores look chromed. I took it to a local smith and he said that's what it looks like. Could this have been done at the factory around 1890? Who in Ohio could look at this gun for me? Also what book should I get for information on these guns? I have ordered a letter but have to wait 120 - 150 days.
Thanks for any help
Tom

I would not say it was impossible the bores are chrome, but if so my bet would be post 1890. However just give the bores/ or one of them a good degreasing & dip a Q-tip in some cold/touch-up bluing. Make a swipe with it in the bore & if it takes, it Ain't Chrome.

If those bores look that good, it would send a red flag up to me. I would say that they have been honed out and would give the appearance of looking "chromed".
One thing I would definitely do is to have the bores checked. I don't know what Colt's minimal and maximym dimensions were, but I would say .729 for a 12 ga.

This is just my opinion, and if it were mine I would have them checked.

Do you see any English proof stamps on the flats?

JDW that was what I was thinking also.I can't see any machining marks but that probably doesn't mean much. The gun smith gave me readings of .690rt and .700left. There is supposed to be a guy that is the head of the Colt collectors of Ohio that does a local show and I am hoping to let him take a look at it for me in 2 weeks. I don't really know much about these readings. I'm hoping the Colt letter will shead some light on this also. This gun does have some very nice case colors left on it.
Thanks
Tom

Tom, if the bores were .729, the gunsmith gave you the choke sizes. You would have .039 = full in the right and .029 = imp. mod or light full in the left.
I still would like to know what the bores are.
Not sure if Colt was chambered for 2 5/8" or 2 3/4" then.

Post some close-up pictures, I'm sure many would like to see it.

DAM16SXS, no proof markings, only what I was told to probably be inspector stamps/marks. I had Rev Drew Hause look at the barrel flats for me.
JDW, that's what the gunsmith told me the chokes were full and imp. mod. My question was then, was this for driven birds? A thread not long ago on here was about the right barrel/front trigger being tighter than than the left, opposite from most doubles. Again I am hoping the letter and the gun check out as being original from the factory.
I can email pics but can't figure out how to post. I would gladly email some to someone if they would post them for me.
Thanks
Tom

It is possible the bores were chromed in the aftermarket. Up until about 1980 or so there was at least one company offering bore chroming to anyone. I believe the company was Marker Machine, but I could be wrong.

OB

Interesting topic. What are the practical benefits, if any, of chrome lining a damascus barrel? Would it allow you to shoot steel or heavy shot?

I looked at a 10 ga. Colt 1883 at a gun show this past weekend and the bores were definitely not chromed. They were clean with three shallow dents and no sign of honing and certainly bare steel (Damascus). I was tempted at $1000.00 asking price, but the deep and poorly recut pistol grip checkering turned me off.

I can't imagine chrome plating a Damascus barrel would add anything to the structural integrity, let alone make it suitable for steel shot. It might make cleanig easier or hide a multitude of sins.