The only damascus gun I have personally seen with a blown barrel is a Chas. Boswell that belongs to a friend. He decided to reload for it and, after much pleading on my part not to, said he was going to use up a lot of relatively fast burning powder from his earlier reloading days. I pleaded with him to let me give him some 7625 or PB, or even Clays to use but he said, No. After about 15 loads, which were probably generating exorbitant pressures, the right chamber let go. A flap of metal peeled away, but stayed with the barrel. No one was hurt, but a very fine gun was ruined because of his hardheadedness. He maintains to this day that, since he was using new style AA's, a base wad came loose and lodged in the bore.

May God bless America and those who defend her.