Also, the centralized union of sorts allowed the transfer of technology as the mechanics on their walkabout passed thru other gunmaking centres that were working on the latest & greatest. The mechanic took the technology back to the centre in which he would hang out his gunmaking shingle.
And this is exactly how we account for the sudden production of damascus. 1683 - Siege of Vienna. The defeat of Kara Mustafa Pasha by Jan III Sobieski at Vienna. This was the key date in the development of European Damascus as suddenly thousands of pattern welded gun barrels were available for examination. So that by 1700 Liege is producing Damascus barrels. And in 1718, Portugal is producing Damascus barrels.
We know that Kara Mustafa Pasha was hiring Italian gun makers. After the conflict, they returned to Europe.
I don't intend to rehash the damascus threads, but rather present proof to what Raimey refers to as "walk about".
Pete
