barrel question

[Drew Hause]

Short version:
Stub-Twist was made with higher quality iron; horse-nail stubs mixed with coach spring steel, fused ("puddled") into a "bloom of iron", then hammer forged into rods, rolled into threads but NOT twisted, which were then wrapped around a mandrel and hammer welded.

Long version: spend the weekend looking around here
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dfg2hmx7_186fpmvhzsb

[Austin W Hogan]

I think that, in reality "Stub Twist", "Plain Twist", and "Twist" were trade names applied by Parker. I can perhaps find a half dozen barrels that can be laid upside down and be quickly identified as stub twist or twist, and bring a great surprise when inverted to show the rib marking.

Best Austin

[Drew Hause]

The rib guy was also...uh...'flexible'...regarding Laminated Steel barrels; I've seen ribs marked both "Twist" and "Damascus Steel"
The U.S. makers called barrels pretty much whatever they wanted. The Smith F (lowest) grade hammer gun was offered with three barrel choices after 1900: Royal Steel - $20.00, "Best English Stub Twist" (best?) - $23.00 and "Good Strong Damascus" - $25.00 (wow! -both "good" and "strong" )