Theres danger in Damascus by J.W. Houlden 1960 Guns Digest

[Bill Holcombe]

Reading some old Guns Digests I stumbled upon I encountered this article by J. W. Houlden--I have no idea who he is, as this article was written 20 years before my birth, but thought I would share as I know some on here love to take apart the claims of the danger of Damascus.

First page didn't scan perfectly, but most of it is there.

Funnily enough it is followed by a nice article from Nash Buckingham on Dove Hunting.

[Mills Morrison]

Propaganda by the gun industry. Interesting though

[Bill Holcombe]

Yes I am quite aware of it being propaganda, just thought people would find it interesting .

[Dean Romig]

Author is a bit misinformed, but that was the mindset of the day.

I don't know when the article was first written but it was reprinted in the subject magazine - looks like June 1950.





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[Jay Gardner]

The REAL problem with damascus barrels is once you have owned a gun with them even the most beautifully finished fluid steel barrels look pedestrian.

[Michael Moffa]

If any one is so inclined to throw your evil Damascus barrelled guns into the river, I have a creek on the backside of the homestead that I will gladly deposit them in the next time I'm out yonder that way. Just send'em along and I'll store them in Gun Room away from women, chilluns and the feeble minded until it is time to take them on a final walk about.

Spin

P.S. No need to thank me for helping y'all out.

[Drew Hause]

Gotta give the gentleman some credit.
Major J. W. "Jim" Houlden CD, Winnipeg Light Infantry of Canada
https://www.queensmedal.net/files/houlden.htm
He was a mechanical engineer and "ballistics expert" who worked for CIL
I couldn't find a c. 1950s "OVAL" publication; likely Canadian?

He was close with “It is estimated that the tensile strength...would run 42,000-48,000 psi.” My study showed crolle averaged 54,700 psi

Burrard's 50X photomicrograph of etched (stained) crolle

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/24513874/414265291.jpg

20X nitrol etched specimen; iron white, steel dark

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/24513874/409025544.jpg

50X with silica, phosphorus, and sulfur ie. slag inclusions

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/24513874/409247290.jpg

What he did not notice is that the iron and steel components have migrated and are functionally a mono-metal, without the mythical internal oxidation/rusting. The superior crack is at the surface of the specimen, and is within a steel alternee, not between the steel and iron.

[Drew Hause]

C-I-L Oval was a publication of Canadian Industries Limited
https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/search.jsp?N=4294920952

[Milton C Starr]

Im only 26 and have yet only owned 2 damascus barreled guns so my experince with them is limited . Though it seems most people(not the people who frequent here of course) have this idea that the different metals in damascus barrels was just wrapped around each other or layered like lasagna noodles . When in fact arent damascus barrels forged welded when they were made ? That is what is see blacksmiths mention today when they are forging damascus knives about how the layers become forged welded or hammered welded together .


I had this debate on another forum were a fellow wanted to buy a 10 ga sxs muzzleloader . But everyone was telling him damascus guns are essentially pulling a grenade pin next to your face .

[Eric Eis]

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I had this debate on another forum were a fellow wanted to buy a 10 ga sxs muzzleloader . But everyone was telling him damascus guns are essentially pulling a grenade pin next to your face .

That's what I was taught too growing up in the 60's and that thought went well into this century and many still believe it.

[Mills Morrison]

People who should know better still believe it and there is nothing you can do to convince them otherwise. Lower prices for the rest of us

[Dean Romig]

That's what I was taught too growing up in the 60's and that thought went well into this century and many still believe it.

Right - We were all indoctrinated and imbued with that misinformation when we first began shooting older shotguns. Thank goodness for organizations like the PGCA where well-informed folks gather to share knowledge.





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[Drew Hause]

Milton: more than you probably care to know about pattern welded barrel fabrication here
The Parker Gun, Scientific American, July 24, 1886 https://books.google.com/books?id=Dzg1AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA51&lpg
and
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oPd3fOeToSHZwCaahXNIyV3sGVqow_Z_ENO8Fnk7kTQ/preview
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xylidcizmxlYC66XHUDLpQFtU6gi9WyXSkTayKKWCXc/edit

"Damascus Mythology and Reality"
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LFnSG34k3mBhLEjEgU267wAlIa215MNVQZhIiY62Hx4/edit