Dave, When I was teaching Damascus finishing at Trinidad we had this happen at least once a class. Many of the belgian turn of the century hardware store guns had fake pattern. Some stated damascus "finish" and some did not. The finish was applied to the barrels not in the barrels, once it is removed it is gone forever. One poor student brought 3 sets of barrels and 2 were fake.

Mark

https://www.gunsinternational.com/marksbornagainbirdgunsllc-.cfm

DON'T FEED THE TROLLS !