Originally Posted By: Steve Helsley
The Birmingham proof house is processing vintage Damascus barreled guns every day. Perhaps someone should put the question to them. If such barrels are failing - wouldn't that be the most logical place?


This post begs the next question: Has the Birmingham Proof House every published any guidelines regarding the safety of Pattern-welded barrels? You'd think that they'd be the people with the most knowledge. At least a basic guide that would tell minimum specifications and condition that would be expected in a gun prior to being submitted to them for proof.

I prefer wood to plastic, leather to nylon, waxed cotton to Gore-Tex, and split bamboo to graphite.