Rabbit, I wouldn't mix in hammer forging just yet...and if you really want to understand barrel damascus, try to avoid the overwhelming volumes of blade technology {which is mostly forged}...the reason the mandrel had negative draft (slightly tapered) was so it could be removed easily.
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Reb87...about your Spencer...there are several different names associated with that design...The "Norwich" and Torkelson are just two...hopefully someone, who lives near Norwich or Worcester Connecticut, will take the time to sort out the evolution of the Norwich gun...somewhere I have a Torkelson that is very similar to your Spencer..seems To me that Torkelson was associated with Iver Johnson, John Lovell, Andrew Fryberg, and Martin Bye among others. The evolution of the Norwich or Worcester gun has yet to be roughed out, let alone examined closely...
Last edited by Robert Chambers; 05/28/07 07:41 PM.
