Damascus colors

[Parker Bachelder (Brad's Profile)]

Jeff

In finishing Damascus boiling is only done at the point of final contrast. This step is actually dying the black and fixing the color. The conversion from brown to black is very gradual. The brown color is only part of the recipe.
It is very easy accomplish basic contrast with heat and various rusting agents.The deep, bold contrast as done by the factories is much more complicated than simply applying a rusting agent and boiling.
Both Angier and Gaddy understood that composite barrels were finished to black and white.
I have had the opportunity to see countless high original condition Doubles. I have never seen any Double with composite barrels finished to brown or plum color by the makers.

Brad