Making damascus bbls

[Richard Flanders]

I happened on a thread on damascus bbls on the shotgunworld forum and of course got sucked into the fray. Lots of good info there, some of which I'd guess came from members here. Below is a link to an incredible vintage youtube video that is very worth a watch if you haven't already seen it. Shows the making of damascus back in the day. Amazing they actually made a movie of it back then and that it survived to be digitized. I apologize if this is old news to some but this is really good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fa9dlvRDuQU

[Jeff Davison]

Thanks for the link. That helps immensely with my understanding of barrel making. Wonder where the barrels with the name woven into them are?

[Rick Losey]

and to think they claim it was labor intensive :rotf:

although I have to believe the majority were done in large mills with water powered hammers - a JABC would be priced like a Purdey at this rate

[Robin Lewis]

Great to watch, thanks for the pointer!

Notice all the ear and eye protection? They didn't even wear gloves! I'll bet thousands and thousands of tubes were made and I'll bet these men didn't complain about the hard work but rather took pride in their quality of work.

In my post high school years, I working in a large forge shop (Pittsburgh Forge) and can't imagine myself working with hot, rough metal without, at the very least, gloves. A good pair of gloves would last me, on average, two days. I can't imagine how those men worked like that without gloves to protect themselves from cuts, blisters and mostly burns?

[Daryl Corona]

That was amazing Richard, thanks. Maybe Drew will comment on how they wove names into them. When you see that process you can understand why damascus barrels were discontinued... they were too damn expensive to make as opposed to fluid steel barrels.

[Austin J Hawthorne Jr.]

A few years ago I was able to purchase a DVD of this film. I don't remember from who, but if he still has some available perhaps he can let any interested parties know via this forum.

[Robert Rambler]

DVD is available here.

http://www.damascus-barrels.com/Movie.html

[charlie cleveland]

i seen no over weight fellows working here..they were truly masters at there trade..thanks richard...charlie

[Rick Losey]

I can't imagine how those men worked like that without gloves to protect themselves from cuts, blisters and mostly burns?

the lack of gloves surprised me

i took some blacksmithing classes a few years ago

one of the thing I remember the 'smith telling us over and over was that more folks get burnt by black hot metal than red hot -

[Bruce Day]

Thanks for the link. That helps immensely with my understanding of barrel making. Wonder where the barrels with the name woven into them are?


Here. We displayed this gun ( the Terrell gun) at the PGCA Louisville meeting for those interested.

[Virginia Hessler]

That film gave me a whole new respect for that craft and the craftsmen that did the work.
Thanks for the link.
Tom

[Paul Harm]

How did they put names in ? My guess was a lot of wasted Damascus till they got it right.

[Steve McCarty]

Like all of us, I too was astounded by no eye/ear protection or gloves. I'll bet the craftsmen said they had to feel the steel to work it properly. Wooden shoes! I had a pair once and they are more comfortable than one might think. I love those twist barrels and own four. One rifle, one muzzle loading shotgun, a Parker and a Smith. After reading all that Sherman Bell wrote about shooting damascus, I do it with confidence.

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa23/GermVMA211/Parker%20Shotguns/ParkerShotguns024.jpg (http://s200.photobucket.com/user/GermVMA211/media/Parker%20Shotguns/ParkerShotguns024.jpg.html)

[Steve McCarty]

Wow, no glasses, gloves or ear protection! Wooden shoes. I'll bet the craftsman said that they had to "feel" the steel in order to work it properly. My Parker GH

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa23/GermVMA211/Parker%20Shotguns/ParkerShotguns024.jpg (http://s200.photobucket.com/user/GermVMA211/media/Parker%20Shotguns/ParkerShotguns024.jpg.html)