Big D: you're so right, they couldn't get rid of Damascus barrels fast enough after fluid-compressed steel became cheaply available.

I'm drawn to them because they're artistically beautiful, they function for me flawlessly, and they can't be replaced anymore.

When you talk about "lost arts" they're a great example of that. Old timers used to say that they were quieter than fluid steel to shoot in that they didn't "ring" as loudly...well, maybe. I suspect that was from the charges of powder being used in them and not so-much the barrels themselves, but...maybe.

http://i.imgur.com/L8UVZsGh.jpg

The 3-bar Damascus tubes on my Syracuse-styled Elsie here couldn't be prettier to me and I have several English guns where the Damascus is absolutely gorgeous.

http://i.imgur.com/iufhJ4fh.jpg

Such as this very early boxlock from George Newnham (my boys gun, it weighs 6lbs2!) I wish he'd leave the poor Sprucies alone...

http://i.imgur.com/Y43YhFyh.jpg?2

I believe it is because the transmission of shock waves along composite barrel tubes is somewhat ‘deadened’ by the dissimilar metals.





.

Mr. Romig: Excellent theory!

You, Sir, must have a science background, engineering maybe?

Nope… just a bit of rational common sense.





.

Lloyd, that third gun you pictured must be one of those swamp-ribbed English guns. Can we see a pic of the muzzles and rib?





.

That's the best looking swamped rib I have ever seen.

Let me see what I can do...

http://i.imgur.com/1Lg4J12h.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/GS7N3uKh.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/tk05ftlh.jpg

It's been through proof 4 times...

I don't have a muzzle shot handy I'm afraid. IIRC it looks quite standard at the front end.

FWIW: that recoil pad is covered in elephant hide.

http://i.imgur.com/r7wzsJgh.jpg

ok, here we go...

http://i.imgur.com/ZtUjA58h.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/mwYJ7jZh.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Nj43Zj8h.jpg

30-inch 3-Bar Damascus but only 6lbs2. The action is very petite (almost like a Skimin & Woods gun) with a very thin "diamond" shaped wrist and tapering action-bars under the tubes. As I mentioned earlier, it has been thru proof 4 times since 1882 (in both houses in England) and it's been honed mercilessly. The tubes are at 17 thou at one spot about a foot from the muzzles, so it needs careful (& prudent) use. But on a bluebird day in the grouse woods up north...it's almost magic.

http://i.imgur.com/ABTNOf2h.jpg

I'm interested that pretty much everyone carries their hammer guns open and cocked because, of course, a hammerless gun is cocked when opened and will still be cocked when closed.

General question: do you also carry your hammerless guns open? I'm not making a case for changing your habits, but more interested in the reasoning if you carry your hammerless gun closed during a hunt but carry your hammer guns open during a hunt.

BEAUTIFUL example of a British swamped rib gun!!





.