the average number of heatings to soldering heat, a barrel receives at least a 150 for the fine Damascus tube,
The translated word "soldering" in this statement is a little misleading. The French word for weld is souder. It is often translated to solder, instead of weld. Heuse-Lemoine's comment is in reference to a forge welding heat.
In a reply to Pete, on another thread in this forum, I did some calculations on the number of heats that may be required on a 36 inch barrel tube. My calculations were based on my barrel welding experience. I believe 150 heats per tube may be slightly on the high end. Unless perhaps, Heuse-Lemoine was also counting all of the heats required to process the damascus rod stock into a ribband and then into a barrel.
Numerical calculations suggest that a 36 inch riband coil could be welded into a solid tube in about 50 heats; IF everything went perfectly. I think a fair estimate of the actual number of heats is closer to 100. This figure falls between the calculated minimum and the 150 heats given by Heuse-Lemoine.
it was only when the fulminate was used instead of flintstone that we may say Damascus Manufacturing really began.
The comment here is to reflect the time period that damascus manufacturing truly began. It was about the same time that firearms were converting to percussion (fulminate) ignition systems, vs. flint-lock. The paragraph goes on to say that there were only a few barrels with elementary damascus to be found in the flint-lock period.
a black (stripe) after a white one, for we must not forget that each iron sheet followed by a steel one represents a black stripe followed by a white;
Here again, we have a confusing statement about coloration of the iron and steel elements in a damascus barrel. The comment above suggests that the iron represents black and the steel white. Further down in Heuse-Lemoine's commentary, he contradicts this statement in his writings about the type of iron used in the making of barrels. In this paragraph, he states that the refined charcoal iron has the property of being very light in color, contrasting with the hue of the steel.
we may not use any other but we refined charcoal iron, because it has, contrary to the Swedish iron, the propriety of being very light colored and consequently of a contrasting hue with the steel
In my experience with etching knife blade steels, the low carbon steels come out light in color and high carbon steels are dark. Another experience that I have with etching, is on an original Belgian made barrel tube that I bought from Peter Dyson. This tube I obtained in its "as forged" condition; it never having been finished out. I did a light etch on this tube, using ferric chloride. The iron etched white, the steel black. I am confident that the iron in the damascus pattern is white because the chemise is still in this tube. It is my opinion that the chemise and the iron in the damascus are both of wrought iron, of similar composition. The chemise in this tube also etched white. Having said all this; I am still not comfortable with making a blanket statement that the iron will always be white (lighter) and the steel black (darker) in a finished damascus barrel. My experience is too limited for me to do so.
Color variations between elements in damascus are caused by their different alloying content. Because of their different alloys, they react differently to etchant and coloring chemicals. This is fact. But, given the various alloys that could be included in the metals, plus the numerous chemicals that can be used for etching, as well as coloring (browning/blacking/bluing); what the colors will be in the end product, I cannot state with confidence.
The process and chemicals used by a barrel finisher are what determine the final color. I think it possible that the iron could be the lighter element after an etching process and the darker element after a coloring process (browning/blacking).
I would be VERY interested to hear from some of the folks who have done extensive damascus barrel refinishing. I would like to know what their experiences have been.
could without this sleeve not be conveniently welded, because the resistance of the spring would not a allow an efficacious adhesion of the spiral junctures whilst it is hammered down.
A statement about the chemise; or sleeve. Notice that it says the barrel could not be CONVENIENTLY welded. It doesnt say that it CAN'T be welded without the sleeve. Greener said that they did not use a chemise. I did not use a chemise in my barrel.
The "resistance of the spring" causing problems with closing the forge welds between the spirals doesn't make sense to me. The is no "spring resistance" in white hot steel.
Previous to the wording highlighted by Drew, Heuse- Lemoine wrote; the purpose of which is to give a certain stiffness to this roll after the mandrel has been taken out.
It is quite possible that the chemise helped to keep the hot barrel tube straight during the welding/ forging process. I can see how if the barrel tube was brought to a welding heat in the middle of the tube and then removed from the forge, it may bend just by its own weight. When forging long objects, it is important to keep both ends of the work-piece supported, or they will bend at the heated area by the pull of gravity.
From what I understand; the Belgians typically worked on a full length barrel tube. Greener's workers worked with shorter tubes; as did I, when making my barrel. We did not need a chemise to support the weight of the heated tube.
proceeding successively by small portions of 4 cm in hammering it on an anvil provided with half circular grooves.
The 4 cm of heated tube is correct. The tube is welded and shaped in small sections at a time.
The circular grooves in the anvil provide a different type of support for the tube than does the flat face of the anvil. If the smith needs to work a small area on one side of the tube, the circular groove gives the opposite side of the tube a broader support area than would a flat surface. Forging the tube in the groove will allow the smith to shape one side of the tube without moving material on the other side. The grooves also are used to keep the tube positioned on the anvil. During heavy forging, a hammer blow that is not exactly centered on the top of the tube can send it skittering across the flat face of the anvil. Forging in the grooves just makes sure that the tube stays put on the anvil.
in uniting both tubes either by welding them with tin or with the help of brass.
This refers to joining the tubes into barrel sets. I dont have Heuse- Lemoine's original text in French in front of me, so don't know what word got translated into "weld". Weld is not the correct word in English for this process. If I remember correctly; the Belgian made barrel sets were typically joined with silver solder, or brass. The British and American manufacturers used soft solder.
