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My shotgun appears to have the less desirable "twist" construction (photos below).
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I have read elsewhere that it was common to fake the damascus pattern on fluid steel barrels of that era as damascus was regarded as higher quality. I would like to see photos of a replicated damascus barrel should anyone care to share.
According to contemporaneous advertising, the barrels on my shotgun were made in Belgium. I think Parker likewise used Belgian produced damascus. Many opine that the Belgian damascus was not as strong as the English damascus; however, it is interesting that American manufacturers resorted to the Belgian produced barrels and did so well into the smokeless powder era. After these Belgian barrels were delivered, does anyone know just how much work (e.g., join, regulate, bore and finish) was typically done in the United States to mate them to the shotgun? My Meriden bears no indication of factory proofing. Does this mean it was not proofed, or simply that some American manufactures did not mark their guns with a proof?
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There is nothing less desirable about those barrels. The differences in jobber prices when they were produced leads to a lot of modern misconceptions. Look at it another way. With fewer welds, there is less to go wrong 100 years later.
The Belgians essentially tried to put an end to Faux Damas by instituting laws about what could be stamped on the barrels. The problem with period faux damascus is that in many cases inferior cold rolled steel tubes were painted over. These tubes have longitudinal welds that are known for splitting the length of the barrel. The very reason damascus was felt to superior was that it would not fail like this.
In general, American makers were no different that makers any where else at the time. They were constantly seeking out sources of competitively priced parts for their final product. The English had the ability and resources to be independent with regard to barrel making. None the less, a good deal of tonnage in raw tubes crossed the channel. American makers had to deal with the constantly changing tariffs of importing foreign products.
As far as Belgian proofs... If the tubes were in a final state (bore diameter with chamber) but yet unjoined, there was a proof required. If they were joined, but not yet fitted to a receiver, there was a proof required. So only the roughest tube could have been exported without at least 1 proof. On some Lefever barrels the makers marks can still be found. In general however, it is believed the makers marks and proof marks were filed away during the final shaping and fitting.
As for 100 year old companies and their proofing policy, I would love to see some documentation as well. For all the factory photos, I have never seen one of the proof room. Not saying it was not done... Yes, I know about Fox...
FAUX Damascus images This 8 Bore sold for a substantial amount
If you are unsure about the damascus pattern being real, a touch of paint remover will almost always reveal the truth.
Interesting document about faux damascus
http://damascus.free.fr/f_damas/f_hist/liege.htmPete
