Sherman Bell cheerfully over loaded damascus barrels trying to blow them up. He loaded a Parker GH to 30,000 psi and it kept on shooting. Now most modern loads are around 12,000 psi some more some less. RST I think is around 9,000 psi. 30,000 is WAY over what we normally run into. Bell even honed an LC Smith barrel to what he called "paper thin" and tried to get it to blow. It did not.

As hard to believe as it is, the Damascus mythology was a well orchestrated hoax.

But for the collector/shooter of Damascus Parker's they still bring a discount to steel barreled examples which is a added bonus for those of us that prefer Damascus.

After Sherman Bell blew up Dr Gaddy"s and my Parkers I shoot twist, Damascus, and Fluid Steel Parkers without trepidation. All 12 gauge guns are shot with 1oz or less @ 1200 fps or below. These are off the shelf Winchester and other brands. One of my favorite Parkers is an 1881 (144 years old) 12 gauge Lifter with Twist barrels. I beat Will Curlin left handed with it shooting WW 1oz @ 1180 fps. As far as #1 Frame Parkers, I have three. If I'm shooting a round of Spoeting Clays I like 7/8 os loads as there is less muzzle rise. Fiocchi Exacta Target Line Low Recoil 12 Gauge 2-3/4 #8 Shot 7/8oz Lead 1200fps

I enjoyed Sherman Bell's articles in DGJ and read them over and over. He had a hard time to get damascus barrels to let go. He honed a set of L.C.Smith barrels to "paper thin" and loaded them with Remington proof shells and they still wouldn't explode. The only sure way to get damascus barrels to let go was to put an obstruction in the bore. Any shotgun barrel will explode if you do that.

I have about 20 years of Double Gun Journal magazines. Can someone tell me which issues include Bell's research? I haven't counted how many issues I have, but they take up about six feet on a shelf. Thanks in advance.

The Double Gun & Single Shot Journal “Finding Out For Myself” series by Sherman Bell with technical assistance from Tom Armbrust
Vol 10, Issue 2, Summer 1999, Part 1, p. 9
Vol 10, Issue 4, Winter 1999, p. 21 - Destructive testing of Parker GH Damascus
Vol 16, Issue 2, Summer 2005 - Destructive testing of Parker VH Vulcan Steel
Vol 17, Issue 3, Autumn 2006, p. 12 - Destructive testing 8 Damascus doubles
Vol 17, Issue 4, Winter 2006, p. 28 - Destructive testing 7 Damascus
Vol 18, Issue 1, Spring 2007 -
Destructive testing on a Damascus barrel with thinned walls; calculated by O.D. - I.D. and not measured.
Destructive testing using various obstructions, including a 20g shell.
Destructive testing using a shell loaded with 3 1/4 Drams by volume or 56 grains of Unique (similar to “Infallible”) with 1 1/4 oz. shot. The chamber burst with the first shot.
The 3 1/4 Dram Equivalent load is 24 grains of “Infallible”.
Vol 19, Issue 2, Summer 2008, p. 18 - Destructive testing 1 Damascus, 6 Twist
Vol 20, Issue 3, Autumn 2009, p. 108 - Destructive testing 1 Damascus, 5 Twist “Bottom-Of-The-Barrel Wall-Hangers”


The Remington Proof Loads used by Sherman Bell and Tom Armbrust were reported to be 18,560 psi.
Total 28 vintage doubles/54 Twist and Damascus barrels + 2 Vulcan (Fluid) Steel

Thank you very, very much Drew!

I looked for Vol 10 issue 2 or 4. I found Vol 10 issue 3. The ones I wanted are in the mix, but darned if I can find them. The magazines are in a closet and it's not very well lit. My wife says she'll help me put them in order...she is nice to me. She is also a good sport. When we met, nearly 50 years ago I introduced her to shotgun shooting. We have one of those spring loaded hand throwers. She held the gun (a 12 gauge Miroku O/U) perfectly and broke lots of clays.