[Dean Romig]

Hi Bob,

I expect that you will not be able to discern the difference in Damascus pattern between the G and the D grades.

The letter designation and the numeral designation of the grade are seperated by the serial number but only on the water table, not on the barrel flats.

You are correct that the "D" on the barrel flat is the stamp for Damascus on grades 2 through 4 and sometimes 5 and 6 but usually a grade 5 and 6 are "Finest Damascus Barrels" as indicated by a "DD" or double D stamp on the right barrel flat.

As I understand it, the numeral stamp toward the breech end of the right barrel flat is the grade designation, e.g., 3=D, 4=C, 5=B, 6=A, 7=AA. Again, I have never seen a 2 in this position indicating a grade 2 gun. These numeral stamps hold true for fluid steel barrels as well on nearly all the guns I have examined.

As an example, take a look at this CH grade (4) with Bernard barrels. On the water table is the grade number above and the letter designation below seperated by the serial number. And on the right barrel flat is the B for Bernard forward of the numeral stamp of 4 for the for the grade of the gun.


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