Quote:
factual reporting has put the onus on nearly 100 years of lies and propaganda about Damascus barrels and short chamber pressure.

This depends to some extent where you were reading. I purchased my copy of Burrard's "The Modern Shotgun" some 40 years ago & he lied about neither. The British Proof Houses never ceased proving damascus bbls & the British ammunition companies settled the chamber length question about the time of WWII. Bell brought it to the attention of some who were unaware, but he left the impression he had "Discovered" it all. If he really thinks so, he simply failed to do his homework.

Miller/TN
I Didn't Say Everything I Said, Yogi Berra