damascus barrels

It's not true at all, old guns should be checked over esp. the barrel and ribs, use loads that the gun was meant for, quite often 2 1/2" black powder or equiv.(very low pressure loads).
 
2 1/2" shells are loaded by Kent, although I do not know if they load black powder.
Handloading 2 1/2" blackpowder shells is easy enough.
There are those who say that no welded barrel gun should ever be fired, period.
Others are quite content to use these guns if sound.
 
drslav said:
these shells can not be bought can they...reloads i guess?
Click to expand...

The kent loads are actually low pressure smokeless. I've done a lot of shooting with Damascus barrels and never had an issue. I've even shot a few with deep pitting. As long as moderate loads of BP are used these guns are actually very safe.
 
Damascus

I once owned a beautiful Ithaca 20 ga with Damascus barrels. I shot standard factory loads in it just fine. I can't recall if it was Nitro proofed or not.

I recently read that early "fluid steel" barrels failed proof frequently compared to Damascus barrels when smokeless Nitro loads were being developed by the Brits.
Well past the turn of the century, you could order a 'best quality' double rifle with Damascus barrels.
 
Sharps '63 said:
I once owned a beautiful Ithaca 20 ga with Damascus barrels. I shot standard factory loads in it just fine. I can't recall if it was Nitro proofed or not.

I recently read that early "fluid steel" barrels failed proof frequently compared to Damascus barrels when smokeless Nitro loads were being developed by the Brits.
Well past the turn of the century, you could order a 'best quality' double rifle with Damascus barrels.
Click to expand...

Very true. Higher grade damascus guns were known to be stronger (and frequently nitro proofed) than the cheaper fluid steel barrels. The weaker and more dangerous guns were typically cheap belgian knock offs.
 
I have shot and continue to shoot a number of damascus shotguns, rifles and pistols. Relative to shotguns, I think you would be wise to confirm that the barrels are at least .020" thick at the muzzle and preferably closer to .030". I have only had one barrel burst and that was because the barrels were only about .010" thick and additionally the rib had been resoldered with acid core solder resulting in pitting which perforated the barrel in the void space.

The shortcomings of belgian guns has nothing to do with their barrels. Their locks tend to be rough finished and soft on the inside plus the guns overall have often been abused resulting in guns that are loose and / or don't hold the hammers cocked. The gun of mine which failed, by the way was a fairly high quality gun; just the barrels were excessively thin out towards the muzzle plus were extensively pitted completely through the barrel.

cheers mooncoon

Burstbarrrel2b.jpg
 
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