12 bore DH damascus
 

I am looking at a possible purchase of a 12 bore DH with 30 inch Damascus barrels on a number 2 frame. Its a clean gun with the normal refinished wood and fading case color but with good color in the barrels. The manufacture date references 1900 per serial number. The gun shows choke of mod and full. The wall dimensions given for the barrels are as follows:
right barrel:9inch from chamber .030,035 and .027. Left barrel 9inch .031,.032 and .027.
I have no real problem with this as long as they are .025 or greater but would love to know what were the typical (if there is such) wall dimensions for this gun with Damascus barrels on a number 2 frame. I would like to hear any thought on this.

Unfortunately, there was no ‘standard’ wall thickness that we know of. Parker Bros. struck barrels to safe wall thicknesses but each gun was different. The barrels were struck as part of all work done to a gun to attain a specified overall weight of the gun. Frame size, barrel length, wood density and other factors all figured into the weight of a finished gun.





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While you have plenty wall thickness on those barrels , I think , but do not know, that they have been honed some. The standard bore ID would be .730. I often see .040 or greater on a 2 frame 12.

I would like to have a little more meat on the tubes than .027" when we are talking about shooting Damascus barrels. But that's just me. I too suspect these tubes have been thinned from honing since leaving the factory.

At 9" from the breech I want .040, .030 at 9" is thin IMHO.

You didn't mention the bore diameters, very important. It is unusual for the outside to be honed, more common to see the bores enlarged. The serial number range also indicates the original bore diameters, early guns often larger bore diameter. The seller could have measured the wall thickness incorrectly and everything could be factory original. You are the final judge of wall thickness. Why would he mention the wall thickness without telling you the bore diameter? Don't give up yet.

A sample of 12g barrels I have measured

1903 Parker Grade 3 2 frame with D4 damascus
9" from breech L & R .045

1913 Sterlingworth
9” from breech L .040 / R .045

1903 Smith 00
9” from breech L .048 / R .049

1906 Smith 00
9” from breech L .044 / R .053

1929 Smith Field
9” from breech L .043 / R .045

1905 Remington 1894 A Damascus
9” from breech L .060 / R .058

The end of the chamber wall thickness is even more critical. Lots of numbers here
http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/...=379803&page=3

.025 MWT refers to the distal 1/3 of the barrel; usually reported both 9" from the muzzle and MWT location. Factory small bores may have MWT of .020".

Murph has hit the nail on the head. Bore diameter is where I always start and to me the most important.

The measurement for this DH is as follows for the right barrel. Mid of barrel is .038,.038 and .030. For left barrel mid is .037, .038 and .032. The bore measurement is .735. Any further thoughts?

1. What is the chamber length?
2. What is the end of chamber wall thickness?
3. What is the length of the forcing cone ie. have the cones been lengthening?
4. What is the bore at 9"?

The barrels have been inexpertly honed, and the 9" wall thickness is inadequate, esp. for pattern welded barrels.
If you wish to use the gun, it should be with sub-gauge tubes.