A page from Greener:


This is an image from Figiel, "On Damascus Steel"


Figiel, himself an avid collector, has documented some of the early methods of forming damascus that were used in India. They often involved twisting bars, cutting them and rejoining, etc. They created patterns that we rarely see. It was the Ottoman focus on economy that resulting in wrapping around a mandrel. This was adopted by Europeans.

The issue with twisting a bar is that more metal is lost during the boring.

Pete

http://www.damascus-barrels.com/Movie.html