doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun FAQ @ doublegunshop.com Twist or Damascus

2-piper -

Thanks for the explanation. I hear what you're saying.

Dave Weber.....(and everyone who posted information) is this something that can be placed in the FAQ section for future reference? It would help quickly educate all of us new bees. I'd hate to loose such information and great pictures.

Thanks again to Dr. Gaddy.
Count me in for your first book (when you get around to writing it)

DG

DG

I have posted these pictures and others from my Damascus Display Board and Damascus Showroom Model several times on the old BBs and, I believe, on this new one as well. I will be happy to post then again as needed. Also, anyone can print out this string and have a hard copy with fairly decent photos, and better quality photos can be stored on any computer by right clicking on each photo and saving it in any appropriate directory on your C-drive.

I have no objection to placing it in the FAQ area, but I question whether it is necessary.

Oscar Gaddy

I'd like a signed copy of that book?

Anthony & eightbore: I don't know if this was the standard damascus type used on this grade or if it's a coincidence, but my G Grade Lefever 10-bore has Kearcher-restored barrels which he described as "beautiful star damascus." Frankly, although no more or less beautiful than Oscar's, my barrels have much more discernable "stars" than the examples posted. Obviously, each set of barrels is unique, but I wonder which style of star damascus is more common?

TT

If I may hop into the discusssion here, I believe that the distinct star was probably what Bill (Eightbore) was referring to in his post---at least that was the way I read it. This is the star represented by a small white cross or X in a dark field rather than blobs or small squares of white that represent stars as seen on the barrels in my photo. I have seen several examples of both types of star Damascus patterns and it is my observation that the pattern with the more distinct stars or Xes is the rarer of the the two and is typically seen on higher grade guns. On page 498 of the Parker Story, Vol. II, A photo of a selection of Belgian made Damascus samples from the Parker factory are shown that I refinished for Louis Parker a few years ago. Among these samples are both types of Star Damascus that I described above.

Two-Triggers and Eightbore,the only other gun I have with damascus barrels to compare my Lefever with is an 1889 Remington. According to Charles Semmers book on Remington doubles, ( page 272 )I would say my barrels are Oxford 2 J, very similar to Oscar's pictures labeled "Damascus". The barrels on my Lefever G are more similar to Oxford 4 J (page 273), finer pattern though not as sharp as the pattern on the Remington. The Remington is a Grade 3. I don't know how this compares to a Lefever G grade in quality. What do you think?

Tony

How rare are the "one of a kind" damascus types. What I mean are they types like the Remington with the name in the barrel steel. I realize there is only one of this type, but how often do you see damascus types that you have never seen before?

Mike

Marksman, back in 1976 or 77 in a small gunshop in Brechin Scotland, I saw a side by side that had the maker's name worked into the damascus. I don't remember the maker. Even though I was not into the damscus guns at that time, I marveled at the work and trial and error that had to go into those barrels. Had to have been made by a master barrel maker. Sure wish that I had bought it.

Marksman

Most of the special names like Boston and Oxford Damascus etc. were merely manufacturers names used to identify specific minor variations of common crolle Damascus such as the one in my photo on this thread labeled Damascus. The ones in Semmer's book are from a specific barrel manufacturer in the LIege area. Sachse's book shows photos and lithographs of barrels from a different Liege maker but with some different names used by this company for similar patterns. I believe that the most useful designation is the generic term crolle for this type of Damascus.

Oscar