Barrel work ???

[OH Osthaus]

thanks Kevin

i would have assumed final polish would have been done with an extra fine flex hone polisher

although imperfections might be easier to correct than dents

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by Kevin McCormack

Slugging is (was?) routinely used in finishing shotgun barrels for repeaters (single barrels). On a tour of the Ithaca factory years ago, I watched a lady operate a machine that forced a rotating lead slug spinning slowly on a shaft (literally, shaped exactly like a rifled slug) back and forth through the barrel the length of the bore. After two passes, she pulled the barrel out of its fixture and inspected it visually. She said the process helped to polish the bore as well as "move" (I assume by swaging) any tiny imperfections left by the 'Roto Forge."

I would think copper, brass, or bronze would have been far more effective than lead..... unless the lead residue filled in such imperfections that could otherwise be easily seen by looking through the bore.





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[Craig Budgeon]

The manufacturing process that Kevin saw, I believe, was a lapping process used to produce a micro-finish bore. Lead is used for the lap as it can be easily CHARGED with the lapping compound. Using mandrels in various sizes can be tedious but will produce good results. I'm sure any of the restorers mentioned on this sight will have a dent-raiser which is much more efficient. Screw-in-chokes are a possibility if you have sufficient wall thickness Mono-blocking may be a good investment if it brings you an improvement to your shooting life, however, if you expect to recover many of the dollars you invested at a later date I predict you will be disappointed.

[Wilmurt]

If a Damascus barrel has enough wall thickness can thin wall choke tubes (like Briley's) be installed?

[OH Osthaus]

Originally Posted by Tom Jay

If a Damascus barrel has enough wall thickness can thin wall choke tubes (like Briley's) be installed?

Heathen

[Allen Peterson]

Lapping is an old method that used to be used in guns that is accurate but labor intensive. a Sunnen hone can deliver a superior surface with 2 ten thousands accuracy. These are expensive but not to be confused with a automotive flex hone repurposed to hone barrels that leaves a barrel shiny but
varies 8 or ten thousands along the bore.

[B. Dudley]

Originally Posted by Tom Jay

If a Damascus barrel has enough wall thickness can thin wall choke tubes (like Briley's) be installed?

You can contact Briley and ask them.

[Wilmurt]

Heathen...I've been called much worse. Especially by my setter Max. I'm looking for a second set of Damascus barrels so my top lever can be used for more hunting situations than the cyl/cyl original barrels. i am the fourth generation family member to own this top lever so I'm not going to bastardize what I already have. By the way, Max cursed me after only nailing one dove today.