Late Damascus gun?

[Stephen Hodges]

Would a 1913 GHE 32” barrel Damascus gun be late for Damascus production?

[Drew Hause]

The U.S. double gun makers began introducing fluid steel barrels in the mid-1890s. Parker Titanic steel barrels were offered for Grades 3 - 6 in 1897. It is my opinion that by 1900 most new doubles were supplied with fluid steel.
Some however were not enamored of that new fangled stuff ;)

The latest Parker hammerless damascus barrels recorded are SN 221,278 12g GH D3 1927, SN 222,845 12g DHE D4 1927, and SN 227,020 12g VHE D3 1928.

[Kevin McCormack]

Parker Bros. built Damascus barreled guns well up into the 1920s; I believe the last documented Meriden-built Damascus gun is c. 1926-28 era. Several members own very late serial numbered Damascus guns.

[Jay Oliver]

Would it be relatively safe to assume that most Post 1900 damascus/twist Parkers have likely never had a black powder shell through them? Kind of disproving the later false claims that composite barrels are not safe with smokeless shells...

I am looking at a later twist barreled Parker and that is what I was thinking.

[Drew Hause]

Parker Brothers 1893 Catalog
“Our guns are bored on the latest improved system for shooting Nitros, or Smokeless Powder, and all our guns are tested with some one of the most approved makes, and a tag accompanies each gun, giving the results of such a (pattern) test.”

1902 Sears catalog No. 112
“THE PARKER GUNS: ALL ARE BORED FOR NITRO OR BLACK POWDER”

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/24532497/411815688.jpg

[Bill Murphy]

Yes, Jay, that would be a safe and correct assumption.

[Bill Zachow]

I have a like new 1927 damascus G grade that carries the parker bros overload proved stamp.

[Drew Hause]

Bill: I would very much like to add an image of your "Overload Proved" damascus barrels to my "Damascus Mythology" document
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LFnSG34k3mBhLEjEgU267wAlIa215MNVQZhIiY62Hx4/edit

Could you please send me a full size close up of the barrel flats as a jpg attachment to revdoc2@cox.net?

[Harry Collins]

This was pulled from Drew's wonderful web site. Scroll down to page 33. Not only were they shooting nitro powders, but also 2 3/4 shells in 2 5/8 chambers.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1F2sQuPm05IE4VWYYnCkvuXmYEzQoWd_SQgaAfUOZEFU/preview

[Bill Murphy]

In the final 30 years of production of Parkers and during the total production of black powder era Parker shotguns, there were probably millions of smokeless shells shot in these guns without any damage to the guns related to the ammunition. In the last ninety or more years, Super-X and similar shells were probably the preferred and most used ammunition in any of these guns. Where are the blown up guns? OK, let's use some more intelligent loads, but we shouldn't get too worried about our guns.

[Drew Hause]

Found this on my website. GHE SN 221278 1927 D3 courtesy of Ian Civco

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/17227428/414412935.jpg

[Harry Collins]

YES! With the Overload Proved stamp.

[Don Strelioff]

I have a 1919 20 ga Damascus gun d4

[Richard Flanders]

My 1918 26" 1-frame GHE12 has nice damascus bbls. It's a very light gun. I'd certainly not shoot those old Super-X loads in it!

[Bill Murphy]

Richard, I will bet that someone shot a bunch of Super-X 1 1/4 ounce loads in it.

[Richard Flanders]

I'm sure the barrels would take it, but why shoot such a load in a small-framed, lightweight 26" gun? I'd be afraid of blowing the stock wrist up. It's a perfect woodcock and grouse gun over pointing dogs. It's not a duck gun. Strangely enough, the barrels seem to have been cut and there's no choke but it letters with 26" bbls.