What I am questioning is, you have to look close to see damascus pattern under thinning blue. WERE DAMASCUS BARRELS EVER BLUED ON DAMASCUS? It was made in 1905
When Damascus was new and "very much in vogue" up into the 1920's, I don't think any of the factories blued/browned over the beautiful patterns as it was a very desireable blue/brown etched finish, as it has become again........but as life of these vintage guns progressed, many of them were blued over without etching to hide the damascus as it lost it's popularity in the 20's, 30's and 40's......
and was considered weak and old fashioned......
