Making damascus bbls

[Richard Flanders]

I happened on a thread on damascus bbls on the shotgunworld forum and of course got sucked into the fray. Lots of good info there, some of which I'd guess came from members here. Below is a link to an incredible vintage youtube video that is very worth a watch if you haven't already seen it. Shows the making of damascus back in the day. Amazing they actually made a movie of it back then and that it survived to be digitized. I apologize if this is old news to some but this is really good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fa9dlvRDuQU

[jsd]

Thanks for the link. That helps immensely with my understanding of barrel making. Wonder where the barrels with the name woven into them are?

[OH Osthaus]

and to think they claim it was labor intensive

although I have to believe the majority were done in large mills with water powered hammers - a JABC would be priced like a Purdey at this rate

[Bindlestiff]

Great to watch, thanks for the pointer!

Notice all the ear and eye protection? They didn't even wear gloves! I'll bet thousands and thousands of tubes were made and I'll bet these men didn't complain about the hard work but rather took pride in their quality of work.

In my post high school years, I working in a large forge shop (Pittsburgh Forge) and can't imagine myself working with hot, rough metal without, at the very least, gloves. A good pair of gloves would last me, on average, two days. I can't imagine how those men worked like that without gloves to protect themselves from cuts, blisters and mostly burns?

[Double Lab]

That was amazing Richard, thanks. Maybe Drew will comment on how they wove names into them. When you see that process you can understand why damascus barrels were discontinued... they were too damn expensive to make as opposed to fluid steel barrels.

[Austin J Hawthorne Jr.]

A few years ago I was able to purchase a DVD of this film. I don't remember from who, but if he still has some available perhaps he can let any interested parties know via this forum.

[10ga Hammer]

DVD is available here.

http://www.damascus-barrels.com/Movie.html

[charlie cleveland]

i seen no over weight fellows working here..they were truly masters at there trade..thanks richard...charlie

[OH Osthaus]

Originally Posted by Robin Lewis

I can't imagine how those men worked like that without gloves to protect themselves from cuts, blisters and mostly burns?

the lack of gloves surprised me

i took some blacksmithing classes a few years ago

one of the thing I remember the 'smith telling us over and over was that more folks get burnt by black hot metal than red hot -

[Bruce Day]

Originally Posted by Jeff Davison

Thanks for the link. That helps immensely with my understanding of barrel making. Wonder where the barrels with the name woven into them are?

Here. We displayed this gun ( the Terrell gun) at the PGCA Louisville meeting for those interested.