btw. I have 2 Damascus S/S's and use them everyday without problems... as ornaments on my wall!
I have Damascus-barreled (Dbd) SXS's that I hunt with on a regular basis. There is nothing inherently more dangerous about Damascus barrels than any other type. The biggest issue is that 99% of Dbd guns are 90 years old, or more.
However, if Damascus barrels are in original condition, they are NOT inherently dangerous when used with the ammunition they were built for.
That being said, by far and away the vast majority of Damascus barreled guns were chambered in 2" or 2 1/2". Also, most have never been proven for anything other than black powder. THIS is where uninformed shooters get themselves in trouble. While it is true that many Dbd guns would pass nitro proof, they might also fail catastrophically if 2 3/4" shells were used. Having the crimp open into the forcing cone dramatically increases pressures.
It's completely true that anyone planning to fire a Dbd gun should have it checked by a qualified gunsmith. It's also true that ANY gun, especially if Dbd, should only be fed the ammunition for which it was chambered.
This notion that Damascus-barreled guns are more dangerous than fluid steel-barreled guns is a fallacy. You can still have brand new Damascus-barreled guns made today (assuming you've got tens of thousands of dollars to spend on them). The caveats and warnings above apply equally to 90 year old fluid steel barrels - either you know what you're doing, or you get them inspected by a qualified smith - they have the same potential to be short-chambered and the same potential to be dangerously compromised by rust pitting, dents, or other damage, visible or otherwise.
EDITED TO ADD: "Twist" barrels, which are often considered to be another form of Damascus barrels, are more likely to be compromised over time. I would err on the side of caution with any Damascus-barreled piece, but especially so with twist or 2-bar Damascus.
