We have found that Parker used different fluid steels which had different compositions. We have never seen evidence of Parker management just making up stories for marketing , so I have to believe Parker saw sufficient differences to believe that the steel was sufficiently different to warrant use in different grade guns. We have no evidence one fluid steel was more wear resistant, corrosion resistant, or the like than another. I suspect there are differences in tensile strength but I'm not aware of any tensile strength to destruction tests being done in order to compare fluid barrel steels. ( other than the damascus/fluid steel comparision tests in the DGJ)
We do know that all barrels , composite or fluid, were subjected to the same proof tests. We have reports from barrel refinishers that the higher grade fluid steel barrels are able to be more finely finished than lower grade barrels. I have personally seen that to be true.
The only document we have shedding light on barrel wear resistance is one from the PGCA depository in response to a C grade buyers question about which C barrel to select. Parker said that in order of wear resistance they recommended Acme, Bernard then damascus. That letter was published here by John Davis a couple years ago.
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