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I recieved my Skeet Shooting Review today and in the mag Tom Roster had a major article on why not to shoot damascus and how much he enjoyed testifying in court about them being unsafe. He also took several shots at all the thinking that was wrong. In case anyone wants to contact him the "expert" provided his email address. tomroster@charter.net

bill

since a lot of us most likely don't get the magazine

what was his reasoning?

and did he mention that the British proof houses will nitro proof damascus in proper condition?

Roster knows a lot about a lot of stuff. But it's unfortunate he writes for Shooting Sportsman--a magazine read by quite a few people who shoot Damascus guns. He comes up short in a lot of areas where proof, pressure etc are concerned.

He needs to spend more time talking to Vic Venters, who's done some good articles (and chapters in his book "Gun Craft") based on spending time at the Birmingham Proofhouse, talking to current and former proofmasters, etc.

That being said, Damascus guns ARE potentially unsafe . . . if you shoot the wrong ammunition in them. But then so are a whole lot of vintage fluid steel-barreled guns.

Billy Franklin�s expanded version of Vladimir Lenin�s statement
�If a lie is repeated often enough all the dumb jackasses in the world not only get to believe it, they even swear by it.�

Damascus Mythology and Reality
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LFnSG34k3mBhLEjEgU267wAlIa215MNVQZhIiY62Hx4/edit

Very frustrating to see Roster's article - disappointing really. Just as it seemed some progress was being made in the "damascus = always bad" mythology.

Wonder what his "expert" consulting services cost?

Frankly I'm happy to see damascus barrels receive bad press by esteemed "authorities". The market for them is already way too high and as a public service I have been trying to take all of them off the market.......and into my collection.

I wonder if there is any way to get the article published in more widely read publications.....

Hell, anything is "unsafe" if it's pushed beyond its limits. the worst accidents I've ever seen with guns all had modern fluid steel barrels.

I'm going to maintain that damascus barreled guns in the hands of knowledgable shooters are safer than most any modern made gun. Rationale: we are acutely aware of the limits they have from their age and construction and treat them accordingly without playing roulette. The insanity I see reloaders casually embrace every week with modern guns is what really frightens me.

Amen.

SRH

I guess Roster, along with everybody else in the world, is entitled to his own opinion. But to state your opinion as 'fact' is as wrong as your (Mr. Roster) flawed opinion - which must be based on rumor and conjecture, as he has probably not had any personal experience with a Damascus gun's barrels failing when he was shooting.

Mr. Roster, your opinion, in the case of Damascus barrels being collectively unsafe to shoot, is pure sheep-dip.

Someone snap some photos of the article and post them here. I wanna see it.....I need a good laugh.

Much depends on type and country of origin. For example, I read in very reputable reference that three strip Birmingham trade stuff was second only to Sir Joseph Whitworth Fluid Compressed Steel at the time both were offered. Anyhow I would not worry his faux assertions will keep prices down so we can all enjoy those guns at lower prices. I noticed that British guns with damascus barrels list for considerably less than those with fluid steel barrels. Let us keep it that way.