How do you take care of Damascus barrels?
 

I've picked up a couple of Parkers this year. One has twist barrels and hopefully the next will be damascus. There seems to be more to taking care of them than just wiping then down with an oil cloth after use. This is a case of I don't know what I don't know. What do they require besides wipin em down?

Thanks

I treat mine the same as any barrels

clean them after shooting

dry them well if they were out in bad weather

Bachelder had a thread ,maintaining damascus barrels,he mentioned using Watco Danish oil and it puts a protective coating on the barrels. I'm trying to figure out if that's required for damascus, what it actually does and how to do it or is just wiping them down enough.

Just keep them oiled and clean as with any other surface on the gun.

If you were to send them out for refinishing I would hope the person doing the job would put a protective coat on the barrels as Mr Bachelder indicated.
Beyond that, just clean the barrels very well inside and wipe them down inside and out with a protectant such as Ballistol or Rem-Oil or whatever you prefer.
If the gun sits for a long time between use you should simply wipe them down again every couple of months or as needed.






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On the FAQ page off our main web page, take a look at FAQ #20 under the Parker Maintenance and Repair section.

I put a good coat of IBIZ pure carnuba wax on my damascus and twist barrels. It makes them look great and lasts a long time and I just wipe the bbls with a paper towel or a pc of flannel sheet after getting them wet.

Brad refinished a set of barrels for me years ago. He told me to use Johnson's Paste Wax on them.

Caution should be taken in using most if not all paste waxes, especially any that purport to be a wax and polish, because they contain abrasives. The abrasives are likely finely ground zeolites or calcite, which are relatively soft and used in toothpaste, or worse, silica, which eventually will abrade the barrels, especially if blued. With enough polishing I'm sure the contrast could be polished off composite barrels also. I use the IBIZ because it guaranteed to be pure carnuba with no abrasives at all. Carnub is the "wax" in all Johnsons waxes and is an extremely hard substance. The story of how the Johnson's flew around South America in a sea plane back in the day looking for the source trees for carnuba is fascinating. Somehow years ago I looked into the least abrasive paste wax and came up with Armorall as the best. Can't remember how I determined that.

I also use a thin coat of Watco Danish Oil finish on my Damascus and twist and PARTICULARLY if I have just refinished them either Brown or Black&White