16 ga. forum thread...

[Mike Stahle]

And so the debate go's on & on

http://www.16ga.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11201

[Bill Bates]

I've been following that thread. I like those kind of threads, they help keep the price of nice Damascus barreled guns low.

I do wonder what they would think of my Damascus GH manufactured in 1924. Do you think it was designed to just shoot black powder loads or do you think Parker Bros. thought it was safe with the the normal smokeless loads of the day. I'm guessing it never saw a blackpowder load. I know I don't shoot anything but smokeless.

Of course I'm crazy and it is just a bomb waiting to go off.

[Mike Stahle]

I got that impression as well Bill,
In their minds Damascus barrels were and are exclusive only to black powder.
Almost seems many people think the day the last BP shotshell was made was the last day a Damascus barrel was put on the market.
I’m with you, I think there are lots of Damascus barrels out there in the world
that “never” had a BP round fired through them.

[charlie cleveland]

my old damascus guns have seen some heavy loads... even some steel shot through the open choke guns...ive not seen any damage to the guns...but this is my opinion... so the talk goes on.... charlie

[Old and Reliable]

I enjoyed the informative reply from the Metallurgist re: various test methods, and he is 100% right, as Damascus/Twist barrels are two different forms of ferrous metal (iron)-- wall thickness and visuals are best starting points=- I have two Damascus/Twist 12 bores- a LeFever G 30" made in 1898, and a Parker PH made in 1905 also 30"- both chokes "mike" Full, and pattern accordingly- I have shot 2.5" paper BP shells, 2.5 RST Lite Target shells and even 2.75" Rem RST 1100 fps Lite target loads in both weapons for past 3 years-and for older era guns they have fairly good stock dims and LOP for me, and a lot of crows and barn pigeons, also a few barnyard woodchcuks and raccoons have "met their maker" from either of these "Antiques"--

For the person who does not belong to any of our side-by-groups, and has an older hammer or hammerless Twist barrel shotgun from a family inheritance, most likely the best thing is to keep it as a wall hanger in your den-But many are indeed shootable with appropriate light loads today- a visit to a qualified double gunsmith should be your first step--