Given the right lab, I am willing to cut a bit of the ribbons from the end of my demonstration barrel.
This will be the very end where they have not yet been twisted.
Regarding the billets at the rolling mill. They were huge. I calculated the numbers once, can't find my notes at the moment. The mills ran this specialty product on a monthly basis based on orders supplied in advance by the barrel makers. So for example, a couple of billets would supply all the chain damascus for a month. The billets would be sliced to produce the correct number of ribbons to fulfill the orders.
In Liege, they have the actual billets. Unfortunately, they are no longer on display since the reorganization of the display space.
I have a set of barrels from Dyson as well. I always thought they were too complicated to get good results.
Steve if you can find the right lab.... let me know. But they have to prove themselves before I start cutting.
Pete
