There are those in the gun community that take the position that a Damascus barreled gun should never be shot, while others shoot them regularly.  In the end the decision is yours and should be made after researching the shells, the quality of guns made by a particular manufacturer which made your gun and a very close inspection of the gun.

Generally speaking, Damascus barrels may be safe to shoot after being checked by a competent gunsmith, however, as is the case with any question about your Parker's safety, chamber length and barrel wall thickness are prime considerations.  

Because of the period in which they were made, that being the period of corrosive black powder combined with corrosive primers makes Damascus barrels more subject to pitting.  Pitting in the bores caused by this corrosion is more likely than are the later fluid steel barrels. 

While some minor pitting may not affect the safety of these barrels, some pitting may be deeper and may go undetected by the unpracticed eye.

If found  safe to shoot by a competent gunsmith, it is still a good practice to use specially designed ammunition which replicates the pressures developed by black powder loads that were in use in the age when these Damascus guns were made.

If you decide to shoot Damascus barrel guns, you need to do a little homework and learn what pressures were created when shooting black powder shells.  It is wise to not exceed those pressures.  As an alternative to black powder, look for manufactures of low pressure shotgun shells using modern powders.  Several well know manufactures are making these today and these shells can produce significantly less pressure than black powder.

Other related FAQ's that may also be relevant:

• Thoughts on safe barrel wall thickness. 
• What ammunition should I use in my old Parker?

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