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Jul 28th, 2025
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 89
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 89 |
A friend gave me an old Belgium hanner gun in unshootable condition. It would be a good wall hanger with damascus barrels.
The rib is stamped "Belgium Damascus" but there is no sign of any damascus pattern. I bought some of that circuit board etching chemical, don't remember the name, and applied some under the fore end. It did'nt do anything. Anu suggestions?
Richard Howard
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,983
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,983 |
It probably does not have Damascus barrels. It probably had the phony Damascus finish and it's all worn off or has been removed.
It's probably an inferior steel. Real Damascus or even the faux Damascus finish should show under the forearm or other protected places.
> Jim Legg <
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 13,883 Likes: 19
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 13,883 Likes: 19 |
Jim may be right. It's also possible the gun is a totally brown patina like the wallhangar that someone gave me, a pattern may not be visible anywhere.
There may be a way to test a small area with a single chemical to determine if its damascus, but I don't recall. I do know that the circuit board etch is used after rusting during the refinishing process to remove bluing/browning, on just the steel and leave it on the iron, to reveal a pattern.
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,598
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,598 |
If the gun was made after 1894 (if I remember correctly) then you can believe the "Belgium Damascus". Provided it really was produced in Belgium. Though "Belgium Damascus" bothers me.
Not all guns were finished black & white. Some were finished black, other brown or brown & white. Some were simply etched with hydrochloric acid.
Jim is correct, look under the forearm. I would use some steel wool to remove the finish ( or paint ). If it is damascus you should be able to discern some pattern in the bear metal.
Pete
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