Yes, David, that is true for early 1880's iron barrels; that Damascus was better than the iron barrels of the day. It was not until the advent of the Whitworth process for fluid compressed steel that fluid steel barrels equaled Damascus for strength and the Whitworth process was a closely guarded secret for many years, and costly until Krupp figured it out and began competing and prices fell. Of course all the Vulcan, Titanic, etc. Parker fluid steels were compressed and void free.
Bernards are Damascus and there are several Bernard Damascus patterns, but Parker used only one of them.
For general interest, I'll post again the Damascus Parker barrels with Terrell made into the croille.
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