Damascus Care
I had a good friend at Pine Tree that had inherited his grandfather's high grade Lefever.
The grandfather was partner in a large lumber company as "woods boss"; he stayed in the bunk house and ran the logging camp. He kept the Lefever under his bunk to control raccoons, skunks and bears that got into camp. It was always kept with a greased cleaning rod in each barrel.
He was in town on business for a few days and returned to find the Lefever open on his bunk. The cook had used it on a raccoon. The gun hadn't been cleaned or the greased rods replaced, and both barrels were rusted beyond recovery.
The iron fraction of a damascus barrel is more rust prone than steel. This is probably not as big a problem in modern air conditioned homes, but it is probably a factor in the rarity of pristine damascus barrels.
Best, Austin
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