doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com How many of you shoot Damascus barrel guns

I use damascus barrel gun's all the time.

Back in the early 60s, in my early 20s, I bought a 12 ga., about a 1910 Baker Batavia Leader for $12 while working at a gas station from a guy who needed money for gas.

I was pretty ignorant about the gun and shotguns then and loaned it to a friend to go pheasant hunting. He got his birds with high brass loads.

One day I was wondering why this gun has funny looking barrels. Twist barrels with multiple pretty small dents in each barrel and very significant pitting and the old gun held together! The barrels were at one time cut and the chokes measure ic/ic.

Still have the gun and a set of Savage "Four Tenners".

I have the original Ithaca letter that Pete Posted and that is an excellent example of biased warnings by the manufacturers without any data that started this safety story. I am sure Mr. Thompson was told by their marketing lawyers(and he maybe one of them) to get this story out to encourage new sales.
The only good of this ,was that many of were able to buy some nice damascus guns at a reasonable price,before the truth emerged.

Stallones,

Thanks. I sometimes forget to give credit, my apologies. Like you, I am convinced it was all about sales. Much to our benefit today.

Pete

No need for credits, I saw that letter at a gun show about 15 years ago and was astounded then and even more now after seeing all of the test and data and shooting a LOT of ammo thru my damascus Guns. One day at the Sporting Clays range
a group of shooters behind me noticed me shooting my Ithaca Damascus double. They backed off about 15 feet wsaiting for it to blow up I presumed.

Of all the guns I own and have measured, the Ithaca's consistently have thick breeches. Add to the fact that Ithaca was buying some top notch damascus tubes. They are pleasure to own.

This one is mine. I am a sucker for chain damascus...


I believe Walt posted this one.




Pete

Just took the dog out today for a little training, and shot a few chukars. I was using an 1897 vintage o frame LC Smith. This is the first damascus I have had and I am gaining confidence with every shot. I am using the Winchester Featherlights, and they work quite well.

I have named all my projects and since restoring this one was like putting lipstick on a pig I dubbed it "Wilbur."

CHAZ

Love my damascus 16 hammergun, and will use it next week for the Eastern prairie chicken opener in Nebraska, affectionately known as "Grousemas." 1880's Enos James, appx. 40 thou barrel wall thickness.

I shoot an 1879 Cross Brothers often during the season. One of my favorite guns, since it is a roundbody.

PeteM: "Check for stuck wads between shots".

This is a terrific piece of safety advice, something not often contemplated by the shooter.

Many Thanks, Pete, for making the nearly obscure glaringly obvious.