Dangerous Damascus

[Drew Hause]

Chuck Bishop posted a similar letter some time ago.

August 24, 1948
Remington Arms Company Inc., Service Division
Subject: Heavy Loads in Damascus Steel Barrels
A number of accidents have happened in which Damascus barrels have been blown up with progressive smokeless powder. It has been felt that the reason for this was not only that the loads were heavy and that the guns were not designed for such loads, but also that there is a possibility that such barrels have become weakened with the passage of time due to unsuspected corrosion to which they are susceptible to a much greater degree than modern types of barrels.
It is a great many years since Damascus barrels have been made and sold by American gunmakers. It is felt that unsuspected corrosion of this type of barrel is making the continued use of these guns a hazard.
The conclusion was reached some time ago by the Technical Committee of the Sporting Arms & Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute that sportsmen should be warned against the use of present day smokeless powder loads in such guns regardless of whether they are heavy loads or so-called light loads.
H.L. Hendrix

More mythology here
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1...hIiY62Hx4/edit

[Bruce Day]

John, yours is one of three known Bernard 16s . A handful of 16s, a few 20s and a 28, were made. I've made it a mission to find out and keep track. I've not heard of any others much less seen any others.

For a Parker collector this is a keeper.

[chuck brunner]

Mr Bruce is the best....... Great guns ....... Great knowledge

[chuck brunner]

Has better pics than I do...... trust me....what a collection

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by Bruce Day

John, yours is one of three known Bernard 16s . A handful of 16s, a few 20s and a 28, were made. I've made it a mission to find out and keep track. I've not heard of any others much less seen any others.

For a Parker collector this is a keeper.

Larry had that two barrel - two gauge (12 & 16) set with straight grip and roundel engraving. I think COB owns it now. I'm sure you've handled that one Bruce?






.

[Bruce Day]

Originally Posted by Dean Romig

Larry had that two barrel - two gauge (12 & 16) set with straight grip and roundel engraving. I think COB owns it now. I'm sure you've handled that one Bruce
/


.

I have and it is the third. Straight grip and rondel side panels on a 1 frame, I believe 28". A great gun also, last I heard owned by David Dwyer.

Another 16 was shot through the stock, the barrel stuck on an old beater. There was something wrong with the barrel if i remember correctly.

Some C's had unusual Damascus, like that Turkish Star pattern. I have a rondel pattern 20 ga with Turkish Star. The rondel pattern guns were 1900 to 1905, mostly C's but a few B's and a D or two. Another B with with double rondels each side surfaced the other day, an unmolested Bernard barreled 1 frame game gun under 7 lb, 12ga, how neat is that? And its local to me so I get to see it.

Now where are those 20's and 28?

[Double Play]

Originally Posted by Bruce Day

The roundel pattern guns were 1900 to 1905, mostly C's but a few B's and a D or two.

Roundel???

[Dean Romig]

I'm pretty sure the side panel engraving determines the "Roundel" style of engraving Larry.





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[Daniel G Rainey]

Very interesting, but that is the way business works. To some bigger is better. Ammo companies that owned gun companies wanted there guns to shoot the more powerful and more costly ammo in order made more money. Just like the camo companies coming out with new patterns each year. It is not that the old goes not work,but they need something new to sell. When hunters kills a bird it is dead and it makes no difference if it was shoot with 28 ga. or a 3 1/2 12 ga. It is just as dead. Chances are that the bird shot with the lighter load will not be shot up as much and better on the table.

[John Allen]

Daniel,You really nailed it.Remember that in the late 1940s and 1950s everyone wanted magnums.They believed that if a little was good,a lot must be wonderful.We still suffer from that a bit today with these stupid 31/2" 12ga.guns.They don't realize that the loads are lower velocity,longer shot strings,and more recoil than a standard 23/4",11/8 oz.field load.