Here's Somebody's Worst Nightmare
 

A complete cosmetic refurbishment and sleeve job gone drastically wrong.


http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=196251821

:shock::eek::shock::eek::shock::eek::shock:

Dean,

That is sad in so many ways.

Harry

Ouch, that is the worst type of failure that can occur. I wonder if the shell was a reload or factory ? Even if the ductility of the steel was wong, the barrel should have split only. That large of a piece missing tells me that the failure was due to an extreme overload or bore obstruction.
Had the barrels been original (Damascus) they never would have launched a piece of steel like that. It would have been a hell of a buldge, but they should have stayed together.

Brad.

I think I'll go hug my original fluid and damascus barrels again and assure them that I won't let anybody touch them. I've shot some stout duck loads out of the damascus guns I own with nary a problem.

The gunsmith who sleeved these barrels didn't have a choice between good barrel steels and non ductile or bad barrel steels. He used what he got from some trade supplier who provides barrels to many others who also sleeve barrels. I understand there are only a couple sources of raw barrels available to the trade, and the barrels are foreign made in Italy or Spain, maybe Turkey now also.

You have to be very careful with those newfangled fluid steel barrels.

Or just put a Teague liner in those weak old damascus barrels. That would give a person peace of mind, right?

The empty cartridge indicates that it may have been a 3 1/2 because of how far it extends down the barrel.

At least through 1934, Parkers were not proofed for more than 3" shells, p.515, TPS. Those had a working service average limit of 11,200 and were proofed at 16,800. A commercial 10ga 3 1/2" cartridge is at 11,000psi, so a sleeved gun should have withstood the load. Wonder if it was proofed with proof loads or just tested with regular duck loads.

Jim, that's very observant. I think you've got it. At least 3" and very likely 3 1/2".

Hey, at least my two guns aren't THIS bad! :eek: :rolleyes:

:)
Shane