Great discussion and reassuring. I plan to take my Francotte (1891) damascus on a bird hunt in mid-February. I have shot several hundred low pressure rounds through this gun. I have used factory Fiocchi Trainer loads (7/8 ounce, 1200 fps) which the company rep said show 6500-7500 PSI. Also handloads from a Parker Collectors Association member's EXCEL file. Typically Sr 7625 and Clays at down in the 5000-6000 psi range. The Francotte is BP proofed, but I have always shot nitro. Love the damascus barrels! The only thing I don't like is that the prices of damascus guns have really gone up!

Good notes here about the early steel barrels...

Thanks for your information, and thanks Sherman Bell!