"Making Damascus Barrels" by Jean Puraye in the April 1976 American Rifleman
It was during the closing years of the 18th century that Western gunmakers began to use a mixture of iron and steel for making barrels. All their barrels were of twist damascus...
In France, Jean-Francois Clouet (1751-1801) was probably the first to introduce damascus. Clouet was familiar with industry in and around Liege and had been in touch with iron foundries in the region of Franchimont. On 26 July 1794, he urged the armaments section of the Committee of Public Safety to employ workmen from Liege at Daigny and train them in the manufacture of arms and munitions. The link thus forged between Clouet and a few Liegeois workmen may have initiated the latter into the technique of damascus work.
An Englishman, William Dupein, experimented with the process in 1798. In 1806 another Englishman, J. Jones, patented a new method of making gun barrels by turning a bevel-edged band of metal in a spiral about a mandrel, each turn overlapping and welded to the preceding one.
Drew,
Look for an American Rifleman from May 1931. A very interesting article about making welded rifle barrels. My copy is still packed away but I may have had it in my scans. Watch your email, I'll try to get it sent tonight.
