What’s your preference, blacked or browned chambers?

Whatever they were originally

c. 1867 MacNaughton of Edinburgh 12b sleeved from damascus to steel...back to damascus; with silver between all 4 joints. By John Foster, England. Courtesy of David Trevallion.



With the original rib

I've always admired that set of barrels. I considered doing a set of Boss Barrels that way ..Geo

Black

Ken

I would never black a set of damascus barrels because of the possibility that someone might think they're steel. I like damascus in brown or in black/white finish...Geo

Would rather see the steel with a browned finish of some sort.

I think that you have to have a dividing inlaid line between the brown damascus and blacked steel for practical purposes in finishing the different ways and that seems to introduce a weakness in the joint not found with laser or TIG welded joints. I am not clued up enough to justify that in a scientific way, just a feeling.
I like the look of the finished item, more because I know the challenges of achieving the end result rather than the aesthetic but it is clever and undoubtedly attractive.
As to Geo's point, I would say that since the internal of the sleeved tube is modern steel from end to end and the external damascus only forms the outer shell, I have no problem with the user using the tube as whatever level it has been proofed to.
To date, I have always blacked my sleeved barrels from end to end.

It's ugly

As to Mr. Barclay's comment regarding my point, what I object to is blacking damascus barrels to make it difficult to distinguish it from a steel barrel...Geo

Not my taste, but superb work

I kind of like the brown chambers with the black sleeved barrels

In that case I totally agree. Besides, it's a waste of good damascus!

Pieper did that on some of his barrels I have one and will try to post a picture of my refinish

H. Pieper Ptd. April 23, 1881 Diana; steel breech with Twist tubes



This Pieper Modified Diana had a steel breech with 'Washington' tubes.

My Pieper bbls that I refinished, Steel breech with twist bbls
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I think the damascus/ steel/ damascus looks freakin' awesome, never mind the amazing skills involved to pull it off .
franc

I haven't refinished the barrels but since we are posting:

Those Damascus tubes with steel chambers?

Yes they are. Finish on the Damascus is actually much better that what shows in the pic.