Chuck Bishop posted a similar letter some time ago.
August 24, 1948
Remington Arms Company Inc., Service Division
Subject: Heavy Loads in Damascus Steel Barrels
A number of accidents have happened in which Damascus barrels have been blown up with progressive smokeless powder. It has been felt that the reason for this was not only that the loads were heavy and that the guns were not designed for such loads, but also that there is a possibility that such barrels have become weakened with the passage of time due to unsuspected corrosion to which they are susceptible to a much greater degree than modern types of barrels.
It is a great many years since Damascus barrels have been made and sold by American gunmakers. It is felt that unsuspected corrosion of this type of barrel is making the continued use of these guns a hazard.
The conclusion was reached some time ago by the Technical Committee of the Sporting Arms & Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute that sportsmen should be warned against the use of present day smokeless powder loads in such guns regardless of whether they are heavy loads or so-called light loads.
H.L. Hendrix
More mythology here
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1...hIiY62Hx4/edit