Minimum wall thickness for damascus ?

[Hal Sheets]

What is the Minimum recommended wall thickness for Damascus barrels, in thousands of an inch. ?

[Brian Dudley]

Everyone may have their own opinion on the matter. And a lot of it may be a “well, I have shot guns as thin as… with no issues, so that is my acceptable minimum.

As I recall british proof houses determine .018” to be the acceptable minimum at any point. And I personally do not like to see less than .020” as an absolute minimum. It also depends on where that is in the barrel set. And also measurements at other important parts need to be looked at with more priority. Ie: at front of forcing cones and at 9-10” from the breech (around the forend loop on Parkers).
What I would call normal in these areas for Parkers is .085” or more (usually more like around .100”) and .045”-.070” respectively. Based on barrel sets that I have measured.

[Drew Hause]

Lots of numbers here
http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=379803&page=3

MBWT Data Comparisons (Damascus and Fluid)
http://parkerguns.org/forums/showthread.php?t=31791

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZIo0y746UsSRZIgRuuxwAbZjSBHitO_EanvwLYc-kGA/edit

[Hal Sheets]

Brian,
The hammer gun I'm looking at (not a Parker, it's British) is advertised, "32 Thou minimum in each barrel", Nitro Proofed / Damascus.
I'd welcome Your opinion, please.
HaL

[Dean Romig]

A minimum thickness of .032” is plenty thick as long as that thickness is only from midway to the muzzles.





.

[Drew Hause]

I wasn't asked, but never one to miss an opportunity to rant :cuss:

MWT typically starts about 2/3 down the barrel, and extends to where the choke constriction begins, where pressures are about 10% of breech pressure (very close to eyes and other important body parts)

Simply reporting MWT, as most dealers do, is in no way adequate. If the dealer runs a gauge down the barrels, why not at least report end-of-chamber and 9"??

[Craig Budgeon]

Is the gun still in proof ? The bore could be enlarged , have .032 WT, and be out of proof.

[Hal Sheets]

Craig,
In the add, the bores are listed at 729, chokes 005 & 040 and the chambers are 2.5".
However, I have not seen the proof marks. So I don't know if the "Nitro" proof is original or a re-proof.
Hal

[Craig Budgeon]

The gun is only in proof if the bores are in good condition and dents removed. Value of the gun is affected if the proof marks are not Britsh. Many frugal Brits have had there guns rebarreled in Belgium or Austria over the past century to save a few pounds.

[Hal Sheets]

I believe the barrels are original (not re-barreled). However, I have not viewed the proof marks myself, to see what they are. The gun is very light for a 12ga., at 6lbs. even.
I need to see the proofs myself. Being British, it could have been one of the few with 2" chambers, opened to 2.5".
Many question, I guess only the gun in hand can answer.

[Austin J Hawthorne Jr.]

At 6 lbs. even I would hope the barrels are 24-25 ins. If I remember correctly, the Churchill Model 25's were right around 6 lbs.