doublegunshop.com - home
Posted By: Drew Hause "Uncle Bob" Edwards Twist and Damascus - 04/01/21 05:55 PM
Document covering what we know, and are assuming, regarding Twist, Damascus & Laminated Steel production in the U.S.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/12y9006Ur7mMCqdeeye89c7L4DQrc2iXR8p4S6OIN1bA/edit

We all have seen the Ithaca envelopes and ads featuring "Uncle Bob"

[Linked Image from photos.smugmug.com]

I came across this ad in "Shields' Magazine" 1908, which I have not previously seen

[Linked Image from photos.smugmug.com]

The June, 1909 "Outer's Book, A Magazine of Outdoor Interest" had an article about “Uncle Bob” which stated that from 1861-1865 he worked in Brookton, an Ithaca N.Y. suburb, where there was a barrel factory making steel barrels for the U.S. Government, and iron and stub twist barrels for the local gunsmiths and gunmakers of the period. The stub twist barrels were made of horseshoe nails brought in by the country's blacksmiths. “...to the best of his knowledge today he was the only man in the United States working at barrel boring who ever made twist and damascus barrels.”

It is likely part of the article was reproduced in "Rod and Gun in Canada", July, 1909
https://archive.org/stream/rodguncan11cana/rodguncan11cana#page/162/mode/1up

[Linked Image from photos.smugmug.com]

[Linked Image from photos.smugmug.com]
[Linked Image from photos.smugmug.com]

"Uncle Bob" was still mentioned in Ithaca ads in 1910
https://books.google.com/books?id=R5RAAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA48&lpg
The Shields' ad was also in the November 1908 Hunter - Trader - Trapper
https://books.google.com/books?id=xSEPAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA2-PA23&lpg
Drew, thanks. That Bob Edwards info is fun and interesting. I also just read again your barrel information at https://docs.google.com/document/d/12y9006Ur7mMCqdeeye89c7L4DQrc2iXR8p4S6OIN1bA/edit Really a good job. I wish others might respond with information they might add.
Thank you for this very interesting thread, Drew.
© The DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com