I like the contrast in a set of barrels with two different patterns. A good set of Damascus barrels just make fluid steel look so plain. My favorite Parkers are the Damascus barreled ones.

barrels
 

I am a fan of all composite barrels, but I like Bernard first, DD Damascus 2nd, and Laminated 3rd, and then twist, and other Dam2 barrels, these are Bernard Barrels on a grade 3 hammer gun, the only grade 3 I have seen with them, Gary

just too many to chose from - and they all look great

i do like the twist

http://parkerguns.org/forums/picture...pictureid=7429

but you also have to be impressed with the barrel maker's ability to keep a tight even pattern in a damascus barrel (one of these days I'll get this one refinished - i think it will pop)

http://parkerguns.org/forums/picture...pictureid=8062

i would love to see all the differant pattern of these barrels setting together in a rack as they left the factory what a sight that would be..i cannot choose which one i like best.....charlie
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I can honestly say that I've never seen a set of damascus that I did'nt like. The minor variations are what make them all beautiful to me. I like them all.

Charlie hit the nail on the head. Original factory finish in any composite pattern is beautiful and hard to believe as old as they are. A rack full of a dozen high condition original guns would be outstanding. Those who attend double gun shoots see some like racks, but maybe not all very high condition.

Not a rack, but....

16ga.

I consider these as a poor mans bernard

I find the 'straight' lines of non-Damascus composite barrels to be less interesting and more 'grade school' than the 'swirling' patterns of a Damascus barrel.

Leaving perhaps Bernard Steel out of the discussion, Parker considered Damascus to be superior to Laminated/Twist/Stub etc. You don't see many Twist Steel A grades floating around.

Yup David, Laminated Steel - very nice.


Actually, Laminated Steel is considered one of the strongest composites and this is supported by British burst tests.

Parker Bros. used their own, in-house made Laminated Steel on higher grades, though I have seen them on Grade 2 guns.


Here is a Grade 3 of mine with Parker Bros. Laminated Steel barrels. It is due for a restoration. Quite obvious is the wrong hammer on the right side, but there are worse problems.

Serial no. of this Grade 3 is 14056 and was made in 1879, the last year in which Parker Bros. made their own barrels.


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