Reviewing my catalogues that have Damascus barreled hammerless guns, I find the terminology used varies.
In 1900 the term is "fine Damascus" for GH-/EH-/DH-Grades, there is no mention of Damascus for CH-Grade, the term is "extra fine Damascus" for BH-Grade, and the term is "finest Damascus" for AH-Grade.
In 1901, the terms are essentially the same, except "fine Damascus" is mentioned for CH-/CHE-Grade, and now the AAH-/AAHE-Grade could be had with "very finest Damascus" barrels.
In the "Pine Cone" catalogue, the term for the GH-Grade is "fine three-blade Damascus", for the DH-/DHE- and CH-/CHE-Grades the term is "fine Damascus", for the BH-/BHE-Grade the term is "extra fine Damascus", and for the AH-/AHE- and AAH-/AAHE-Grades the term is "very finest Damascus".
In the 1913 "Flying Ducks?" catalogue, the term for the GH-/GHE-Grade is "fine three-blade Damascus." For the DH-/DHE-Grade the term is "Damascus steel, finely figured." For the CH-/CHE-Grade the term is "fine Damascus steel, finely figured." For the BH-/BHE-Grade the phrase is "extra fine Damascus, finely figured and very effective." For the AHE-Grade the phrase used is "..very finest Damascus steel that can be obtained, finely figured, handsome, durable and effective." And, for the AAHE-Grade "very finest Damascus steel."
Now, the real question is how does what the catalogue writers were putting in print, coincide with what the workers on the factory floor were putting on what grade gun? How fast and loose did they play with this? Did what Damascus tubes came on what grade change over time? While quality of barrels supposedly determined the grade of the gun, could customers order barrels outside the stated quality for the gun? Up or down? We know they often added a lower grade set of barrels at a later time for guns sent back for rebarreling. Ponderables!! Ponderables!!
|
Threaded Mode