jOe: you'd probably get some argument from Rene Leclerc and Leopold Bernard (1832-1867) who were canoniers and barrel makers in Paris. Bernard's company manufactured firearms and finest damascus barrels until 1890.

And here is a section of a book discussing cast iron cannon barrel and damascus gun barrel production. It states that damascus gun barrels were being produced in Turkey by the late 1500s
http://books.google.com/books?id=X7e8rHL...hZJqJw#PPA80,M1

Last edited by revdocdrew; 10/05/07 11:19 PM.
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