Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve McCarty
As I've mentioned here lately I've been reading all of Sherman Bell's articles about testing damascus barrels. He took a Smith damascus double and had a smith hone the barrels to nearly paper thin. He took 9 ounces from the weight off of the barrels. Then he shot them using extremely heavy proof loads. Nothing happened. He couldn't get them to go until he jammed an obstruction down there.
While I love my Parker guns, I'm not a Parker gun snob (not that my fellow Parker brothers are) and any fine double gun starts my heart a pump'n.
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---I must admit, I am remiss, I have not yet read that Sherman Bell research article. Steve, can you share with us where you read it please.
I shoot Tower birds at an area club, and several members have Parkers, Purdeys, a Churchill, several AH Fox guns, etc. Those friends, to the best of my knowledge, are not PGCA members, and they are fine first class gents with superb gunning manners, both at the stands, and also afield later with the dogs for the pick-up hunts. Both my GHE 12 and my PH 12 are 'working guns", and I have never felt any bit of "snobbery' when shooting as a partner with someone with a Purdey. A fine shot and a solid sportsman is a human characteristic (IMO) and not the grade of gun he uses, or make of car he chooses to drive.
You might also enjoy a visit to our brothers in doubledom- vis a vis the LC Smith Collectors Group- I just recently read a very information thread there about the scarcity of LC Smith hammerless doubles in 10 gauge, both with Damascus and also with Nitro proofed barrels. I came away with the understanding that like the Ithaca Flues 10 gauge guns, they were all chambered for 2 & 7/8" shells, and not the later 3 & 1/2" shells as regards the Ithaca NID series guns! A great bit of information, and we are fortunate to have such a nice relationship with the Smith boys!!