No, Dean, it is not a twist gun. I can see enough of the finish to know that it is Laminated Steel. Some day I will have the barrels refinished and uncover the true character of the Laminated Steel. A brown gun such as this has to be cleaned up very carefully to avoid the refinished look. I will not put up with a gun that looks pimped up. Of course the "Gold Hearts Gun" is an exception to that rule. Please reply to my email about the Norris gun.

Our friend's first gun (is it a $200 grade?) does indeed have Herringbone barrels, also called Lutticher (Liege) "Toncin", but they are damascus and not Laminated Steel.
Most examples are found on Lindner Daly's, but the pattern was also used on high grade Smiths and Lefevers
http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/20948056

The second gun has Laminated Steel barrels

Long version :eek:
http://docs.google.com/a/damascuskno...mx7_52fs85cfgt

Short version :)
Laminated Steel differs from Damascus in that:
1. Laminated Steel has a higher steel to iron ratio, with higher quality steel.
2. Laminated Steel starts with the iron and steel mixed together (puddled) in a semi-molten state (the bloom) which is then hammered or rolled into rods. Damascus starts with individual strips of iron and steel.
3. Laminated Steel rods are twisted less than Damascus.
4. Laminated Steel rods may be subjected to additional rolling or hammering.

At the risk of opening a can of worms, and recognizing only 3-4 of us really care :)

There are several Laminated Steel patterns

Belgian "Pointille"

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL.../330752466.jpg

A Mosaic pattern

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL.../332374353.jpg

A Herringbone pattern (which is quite different from the 1st gun) and which Greener called "Angularly Laminated"

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL.../368677950.jpg

Greener's "Silver Steel"

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL.../256132943.jpg

and to confuse things even more, a "Laminated Damascus" :banghead:

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL.../306344715.jpg

Bill, I received no email from you about the Norris gun. Don't tease me like that!!

Now please send me that email... please.

Is it the one we had talked of earlier or is it the other Norris gun??

Austin's Grade 3 with possible Parker Bros. produced Laminated Steel showing the weld line between poorly matched segments

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL.../387027190.jpg

Parker Mosaic

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL.../304215745.jpg

Parker "Pointille"

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL.../299792520.jpg

I would not know anything about that. Here are the barrels again showing the Parker Laminated Steel designation. The Serialization Book shows this gun as the first of only five grade 4 guns with laminated steel barrels.

Not sure if this is our friend's Grade 3 also marked Laminated Steel

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL.../337817308.jpg

But what remains of the pattern may also be Toncin

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL.../391082290.jpg

Dean, I sent you a PM. I guess my email address for you is incorrect.

Bill, I feel hurt by your comments about a "pimped look" - many of my guns, "beaters" by some standards, have had the barrels redone.:crying: Should I sell them ?:banghead: I always thought any gun with damascus barrels worth shooting should have the barrels looking as nice as possible so everyone could appreciate the art of barrel making. Maybe I'll just leave them in the gun closet so no one will see what a mistake I made. :) Paul

I did say I was planning on having the Lam1 20 gauge barrels redone. Pimped up means the full treatment, including bad stock refinish and bad case colors.