doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com How many of you shoot twist guns regularly?

Me neither. I've seen some of the tests, etc., and I don't know who's right and who's wrong. But old habits die hard: Pop said to stay away from those "laminated" barrels, and I intend to do just that.

Jimmy, do you have some basis for your fear of Damascus barrels...maybe you should share it here, that's what this discussion is about. Mark started this thread and wanted to know if they are safe to shoot. I personally have never seen any "documented" info on the failure of any Damascus barrels that were in good condition and previous in this discussion, there was documentation that Damascus was actually the strongest. So, I sure would like to know what you base your decision on. Most of the bad press I see is "sour grapes", and "false innuendos".

enlighten me,
binko

"
Every time I have seen the word "bloom" used, it is referring to metal in a molten state. So is this auther saying that a random mixing of iron and steel was being used? I have no idea what the difference could be between a molten state and "fusion". Did the author ever witness this process?"

I would say that the mixing was random just to the nature of mixing but the added components were not. Someone chime in and correct me, but early on rope making techniques must have influenced tube making but only a specific type of raw material with specific concentrations could be used to get the desired end result. Then Cort's 1784 puddling advances, which made small pieces which were in turn made into a large piece such as rail. Then in 1855 Bessemer added the hyraulic press, along with rolling mills, etc., allowed the rail to be made in one piece. So, here's an overview of raw material to barrel material:

Reduction of raw material, or parent material with known properties, by smelting,

Puddling to add or remove impurities(trade silicon for phorphous, add lime, etc.) to convert into desired melleable, etc. metal.

Later advances in smelting almost reach the desired result in puddling. Then the desired metals for a gun barrel were blended, fused, mixed in a different state, or slightly more fluid state, than the heating and twisting or twisting and heating. So maybe "puddling" was used too loosely but "stuff" is being added/mixed. This is the early/mid 19th Century Laminated.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

The method of hammering has nothing to do with the quality of the barrel. Both can produce excellent barrels, both can produce garbage.

Bad damascus was produced. Even the Belgians complained about it.



Hunting changed as people had more leisure time and money. It stopped being the sport of kings and nobles. Damascus was an alternative to the poor fluid steel in the early years. The challenge was to produce strong light barrels that could handle the pressures of gun powder. Eventually the steel making improved and the need which had created the desire for damascus ceased.

Pete

I've shot a Wilson, London 20 ga. ca. 1855 muzzleloader for 25 years, a Manton (Birmingham proofs) muzzleloader 12 ga. , LC Smith, and various Bakers for years, plus a number of others. I understand the risks. Have never had a problem. If I do I'll let you know and you can call me One-Eyed Jack.

Jack Ward

Has anyone had any twist of damascus steel barrels blow up??

That was great Jack! ROTFLMAO

binko

Once again it was all about economics. Steel making became cheaper and steel rails for trains were installed closer to water transport, closer to the mines on a global scale which lead to a choice of a specific raw material, closer to the retailer. The raw product was mined, transported and converted with less labour involved which lowered the overall cost. So now you have a tube material that requires much less hand labor which in turn cost less and that started to quelled the desire for pattern welded tubes but many were skeptical on the new fangled "fluid" steel.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Sometimes I think jOe is twist (ed) lol

This is yO gun on Nitro..