1902 DH 30" Damascus:

[B. Dudley]

Actually the look of the breech face is what is suspect to me. A factory gun should have the breech face polished off bright. On this gun, the damascus pattern is visible on both sides in spots. That is not typical of factory finished barrels. Also, the barrels are completely void of any real signs of wear, which also suggests that they may have been refinished at some time. But, maybe not. It is just observations on this fine example of a DH.

[Bruce P Bruner]

Originally Posted by Brian Dudley

Actually the look of the breech face is what is suspect to me. A factory gun should have the breech face polished off bright. On this gun, the Damascus pattern is visible on both sides in spots. That is not typical of factory finished barrels. Also, the barrels are completely void of any real signs of wear, which also suggests that they may have been refinished at some time. But, maybe not. It is just observations on this fine example of a DH.

I can't comment on the Damascus patterns on the breech face, though photo forensics are interesting. I submit a possible area of not so recent staining or corrosion. Surely this would have been remedied if refinished. Without having the gun in hand, steadfast observations are difficult at best. There are other small areas of staining and also some scratches in the barrels finish.
Something to consider when evaluating is; Do all of the parts show consistent wear? And if not, why? All in fun...