My question concerning pressures around the turn of the century were not directed at any particular gun or maker, only that most of the big three/four american makers had damascus guns available at this time. I limit it to american makers only due to my intrests. The problem that I have is this... I have heard the recommendations related to pressures and damascus guns, but no one has come out and said this pressure is safe because the loads at the time developed these pressures routinely. For instance, in 1900, the loads that were readily available developed this pressure.....obviously this isn't going to be a one pressure answer, but rather a range. I also understand that pressures were not measured in 1900, hence the work of Bell.
I have several damascus guns that I intend to shoot, however, I don't want to keep the pressures at 8000 psi because Bob or Jack or who ever told me so...I'd rather know what was available and shot with regularity when the guns were new, and then use BP or smokeless to get a load that works for the situation I intend to shoot. Pressures in small bores are different than the 12, so it would be nice to have info related to that since that relates to the initial start of this thread.
