Even the best guns may have dangerous barrels!
As a boy living in the U.K. I had the option to purchase a Purdey hammer gun with Damascus barrels.The gun lacked one hammer. Having fired the barrel with the hammer without a problem, I was determined to purchase the gun provided I could have a replacement hammer made. I took the gun to William Powell,s at that time located on Carrs Lane, Birmingham. Behind a counter in the shop was Mr.Powell Senior[Father of Peter]. I explained my needs to Mr Powell, at which point he took a small penknife from his pocket and ran it down the top rib joint line with the barrel half way down the barrel he pushed down on the knife and handed me the barrels so that I could see the knife blade protruding into the bore! The advice given was," take it and throw it in the Canal."
