Does the Damascus on the higher grade Ithacas compare with British damascus in quality?
I own a number of Ithaca guns with damascus tubes. Overall they have the thickest barrels of any damascus guns I have measured. I would put them up against any other. They had a wide array of patterns. As for quality, I am still waiting to see a British produced damascus tube with a name twisted into the damascus.
Drew is correct about sourcing By 1903 the English had stopped making damascus according to Greener. In 1906 Liege proofed 150,000 shotgun barrel sets. I am sure they made their way into many markets.
As for Bob Edwards and his claims. There simply is no proof that he ever produced damascus barrels for Ithaca as he claims. At the very best, he could have done a tube or two of twist. Production levels would require a rolling mill for any thing else.
I will leave it to Walt if he cares to comment on the subject.
Pete
