wall thickness

[fritz dornan]

Hello,
Could someone please let me know what the wall thickness of 16 ga damascus barells should be?

Thank you,
Fritz

[Bruce Day]

30-35 thou is common for original damascus 16 barrels

[Dean Romig]

But up to 10% less than Bruce has stated as common is probably acceptable as long as there are no pits, dents, bulges or thin spots which could be the result of poorly done honing. In other words, some Parker 16 ga. shotguns were specified in the order books as "light" and barrels were filed somewhat thinner on the 0-frame sixteens.

[fritz dornan]

Dean, Bruce.
Thank you for yor help in answering the question. If the barells look good and have been refinishes. No evidence of dent or bulge repair would you concider purchasing if the wall thickness was to be at .027"?

Thank you again,
Fritz

[Don Kaas]

Once again, the issue is where on the barrels tubes you are measuring. FOR ME,.100" at the end of the chambers and .025" anywhere (that can be measured) along the tubes would be a prudent minimum for 100 year old small gauge barrels shooting low pressure modern loads. As Dean points out Parker made many "light" 0 frame guns where these figures be marginal even when new. Many British Damascus guns have been proven for "nitro" loads with barrel specs similar to these. I have owned and shot these with the same loads I would use in a comparable fluid steel gun. Very few Damascus barrels have survived without "cleaning", "browning" and/or dent removal. I received a PGCA letter yesterday on a #1 frame D grade toplever in 12 gauge that went back to Meriden no less than 3 times for all of these operations each of which reduced barrel wall thickness...

[Bill Murphy]

Don, what is the wall thickness of that one frame now, after three honings?

[Don Kaas]

I forget but they were thin. The original barrels are very dented and pitted. I fitted another set of 30" #1 frame Damascus barrels from an early hammerless gun with .120 over the chamber ends and .032 MBWT along the tubes on .752 bores with .037 chokes.

[Bruce Day]

Dean, Bruce.
Thank you for yor help in answering the question. If the barells look good and have been refinishes. No evidence of dent or bulge repair would you concider purchasing if the wall thickness was to be at .027"?

Thank you again,
Fritz

Answer: Yes

[Austin W Hogan]

Don't forget that it takes about 3000 precisely spaced thickness measurements to find the thin spot that may result from a barrel dent 1/8 inch wide.

Best, Austin