William: your question is not unreasonable, and I believe the answer is relevant to this discussion, which may be found toward the bottom here
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZIo0y746UsSRZIgRuuxwAbZjSBHitO_EanvwLYc-kGA/edit

The gun in question with the spring steel and leather handguard in place

[Linked Image from photos.smugmug.com]

"I personally measured the wall thickness of a 1906 L.C. Smith 16g No. 0E with “Good Two Rod” Damascus at .016”, 14” from the breech which [prior to having the wall thickness measured] had survived 250 2 1/2” 7/8 oz. Polywad Spred-R shells, 100 2 1/2” 7/8 oz. at 1145 fps. (about 8000 psi) loads [William Larkin Moore's], and 2 cases (500 shells) of 2 1/2” RST 3/4 oz. at 1100 fps (4,600 psi per RST) without rupture or dimensional changes."

My 3/4 oz handloads are listed in the manual at 5400 psi, a buddy chronographed the load at 1185 fps, and cases of that load have been through the gun.

The end-of-chamber MWT is .114" R (the thin barrel) and .118" L. 9" from breech is .032" R and .044" L.

It is my opinion that barrels that are thin from 12" from the breech to the muzzle (where pressures are much lower) are likely to split; not disintegrate

[Linked Image from photos.smugmug.com]

But the hand guard provides some additional safety.


Could you please share the wall thickness gauge that you use, and the end-of-chamber and 9" MWTs of your Lefevers?
Thank you. Drew Hause


BTW while digging out the evaluation, I found these end-of-chamber wall thickness numbers:
20g No. 00 Armor steel Smith .088" L and .090" R
16g No. 00 Armor steel Smith .096 L and .105 R
16g No. 0 damascus Smith .108" L and .102" R
12g No. 4 chain damascus Smith .110" L & .103" R

https://sites.google.com/a/damascusknowledge.com/www/home