I've been pondering the safe to shoot Damascus question for some time. It seemed almost a silly question after awhile. Many English guns show current nitro proof stamps. Many people still are shooting guns without those proof stamps.
The people that seem to be in they are bombs waiting to go off crowd mostly are working from a friend of a friend point of view.
My GH Damascus was manufactured in 1924. I have feeling that Parker after 50 plus years would know by then if there was some inherent problem with Damascus and twist barrels. I doubt the first owner of my Parker spent a lot of time searching out "low pressure" loads. Likely he or she wandered down to the local hardware store and bought whatever 2 3/4" shell they could find with the preferred shot size.
When I bought my GH I bought it to shoot. The bores were excellent and untouched by a hone. The wall thickness was as it should be. There are no dents dings or pits. The barrels are on face. There are no cracks in the stock. I would have considered all of those things when deciding if a gun was safe to shoot no matter fluid steel or Damascus. My GH is a good sound gun. I'll shoot as God and Parker Bros. intended. I’ll keep it in proper working order and pay attention for possible barrel obstructions just like I would any other firearm.
In my job i do get to see plenty of shotguns with split, damaged barrels. We had a new 870 with a pretty good split and no more more choke tube brought back just the other day. A little mud will do that as the youngman learned.
Okay that was my ramble for the day. Now it is time to get ready and go to work. I have guns to photograph.
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