Stars and Bars

[Bruce Day]

xxx

[Kurt Densmore]

That is a nice one Bruce....12 ga I presume ?? Is that listed as a D2 in the book ??

Kurt

[Dean Romig]

Unless the camera lens has caused it to look out of proportion the barrels look smaller than a 12. That's not another of those scarce twenties is it?

[Bruce Day]

Its a 12. Drew has seen it but I'm not sure it has been seen publicly before. I may have the name of the pattern wrong but my understanding is that it is the only known Parker with that damascus pattern. He'll correct me if I am mistaken. It could have been something like American Bunting.

By the way , a nice G grade top lever hammer 16ga with 32" damascus barrels, the gun all original with case colors remaining, just surfaced in rural Kansas and the owner, a friend of mine, is pleased. The gun was ordered by Meacham in St Louis and sent out to Kansas where it has remained for over 100 years.

From Drew's post below, looks like I was close on the name and hit all around it. American Flag Bunting, and again, while the pattern is known to be used by other makers, this is the only Parker known in the collector circles with it, unless another surfaces.

[Drew Hause]

Our mutual friend's barrel pattern is called "Washington" (Washington N 3. B.P. by Remington), "Stars & Stripes", or "American Flag Bunting". The pattern was named by Ernest Heuse-Lemoine (1834-1926) of Nessonvaux specifically for the U.S. market.

[Dave Suponski]

Simply Stunning...

[Dean Romig]

I had heard it referred to as "Stars and Stripes" before. "Stars and Bars" was/is the term for the Flag of the Confederacy.

[Dean Romig]

Actually, "American Flag Bunting" is far more appropriate a description of that pattern than simply "Stars and Stripes". A bunting is a banner draped again and again forming the kind of lazy bows seen in the 'stripes' of that pattern.

[Bruce Day]

I appreciate the workmanship and strength of these damascus barrels and I know collectors that are only or mostly looking for damascus. I look forward to seeing the Terrell gun, with the name woven into the damascus pattern and repeating itself, at some time.

[Drew Hause]

"Washington" is a variant of Etoile'
Remington 1894 CE with 'Etoile 3 B.P.' We still haven't figured out the B.P. :(

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/17067005/303255759.jpg

The 'TERRELL' gun

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/17227428/268570025.jpg

[Bruce Day]

Correction: 16ga. G.

[Dean Romig]

Correction - Fabulous 16 Ga. G on an 0-Frame, WOW!!

Mr. X has shown me those pictures and others too. It just amazes me that he continues to turn up such fantastic Parkers. I admire his collector skills and abilities.

[Bruce Day]

Bringing to the top for the snowed in northeasters.

[Dean Romig]

Thanks for something nice to look at after the snow-blindness subsides.

[George M. Purtill]

Stunning.
Why doe we pay more for steel barrels?

[Bruce Day]

George, try to buy one of them or a Bernard.

Ask Eric about a certain small bored damascus gun. see if he will post photos.

[George M. Purtill]

OK Bruce- you got me!!

[Drew Hause]

How they did it :)

The 'lopin'; black being the iron (which will stain silver)

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/16082038/289775561.jpg

The rod after hammer welding or rolling

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/16082038/289775554.jpg

Rough forged tube

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/16082038/289775559.jpg

Syracuse Arms atop the 'gold towel'

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/16082038/403858866.jpg

[Drew Hause]

A better explanation here, with Dr Gaddy's demonstration board and contributions from the 'gold towel guy'
https://docs.google.com/document/edit?id=1MuDe76Vti9bwoT2fcH_HJf--LZy8XQvO2utCakawJQo

[Eldon Goddard]

Are the different colors just different carbon contents?

[Drew Hause]

A bit more complicated Eldon :banghead:
Courtesy of Steve Culver, President-Kansas Custom Knifemaker's Association
www.culverart.com

The smith will select materials for the elements in the damascus and then also the finishing chemicals that will create the desired appearance in the finished product. The color of the material after etching is determined by the alloys in it. Steel with a manganese content will typically etch black. Iron will etch gray through charcoal. Nickel will produce silver and chromium a light gray. The smith can use several different types of steel for his damascus and create layers in the pattern with varied shades from silver through black in the oxides formed by the etchant.
But, there’s more. If the damascus is deeply etched, it creates topography (high and low areas) on the surface of the material. Whatever element that is least affected by the etchant will be proud of the element that was more eaten away by the etchant. When lightly sanded, this higher element will become lighter in color, or silver. Typically, it is the higher carbon content material (steel) that etches quicker. This would leave the iron layers standing above the steel layers. So after sanding, the iron would finish silver. If the damascus is then blackened or browned after etching and sanding, the colors could again change, depending on which element has the greatest affinity for the coloring chemicals. So, it would be a stretch to categorically state the either the iron or steel will always be a certain color. It is all dependant on the finishing process.