Very interesting. From the Shotgun World link you posted earlier and comments above, the diamond with 16 over C indicates this Modified Diana was made between 1898 and 1924. Therefore it is probably the Model 46542 or the Model 862. If it is proofed for smokeless powder the Lion over PV (or over Sch? or EV?) should be there.

I can measure the bore ID with my 10" long Skeets bore gage and OD with a micrometer to get the barrel wall thicknesses. What is considered a "safe" minimum thickness?

I know a number of folks on the 16ga.com site shoot guns with Damascus barrels. However, what is the difference between Pieper's so-called laminated steel (twist steel?) barrels and Damascus? Are steel twist barrels inherently less strong?

Last edited by BarkeyVA; 08/19/14 08:41 AM.