Damascus barrels added later

[Bruce Hering]

Originally Posted by Russell E. Cleary

Reportedly, Lord Walsingham (1843-1919) changed the Whitworth (fluid) steel barrels on some of his guns for Damascus, as the composite steel he deemed less prone to inducing a headache.

This, from Wikipedia, tells of the event that prompted the nobleman’s “changed mind” on gun barrels.

“On 30 August 1888, Lord Walsingham had a remarkable day shooting on Blubberhouses Moor, Yorkshire, when he killed 1070 grouse. The day started at 05:12 with the first of twenty drives, assisted by two teams of forty beaters, two loaders and four guns. During the sixteenth drive he shot 94 grouse in 21 minutes; a killing rate of one every 13 seconds. The last drive finished at 18:45 and his Lordship managed to shoot fourteen on the walk home.”

That is some kind of shooting. No wonder he had a headache.