Author Topic: Question- damascus barrels  (Read 8973 times)

Offline jerrywh

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Question- damascus barrels
« on: May 24, 2009, 07:00:03 AM »
Is anybody making new damascus barrels???
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Offline Jerry V Lape

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Re: Question- damascus barrels
« Reply #1 on: May 24, 2009, 07:48:03 AM »
Jerry, I don't think anyone is making new tubes from which to make barrels but I am told there are a couple sources of unused damascus tubes.  The current firm of Greener has enough that they will make you a  new"bespoken" shotgun with damascus barrels if you have enough cash and can stay alive until they get around to delivery.  I also read an article on the Doublegunshop.com bulletin board about a year back concerning a builder in England who had bought up all the unused tubes he could find years ago.  You might inquire on that bulletin board and see if the boys there can point you to the correct address. 

Offline 44-henry

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Re: Question- damascus barrels
« Reply #2 on: May 24, 2009, 07:48:35 AM »
I don't know much about these guys, but it might be worth looking into.

http://www.damasteel.com/firearms.html

Offline Feltwad

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Re: Question- damascus barrels
« Reply #3 on: May 24, 2009, 08:14:20 AM »
You can try here in the UK www.peterdyson.co.uk  they did do new Damascus barrels mostly for shotgun are expensive.
Feltwad

Offline jerrywh

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Re: Question- damascus barrels
« Reply #4 on: May 24, 2009, 07:19:36 PM »
Price doesn't matter much. Customer has money---- mucho.
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Offline Acer Saccharum

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Re: Question- damascus barrels
« Reply #5 on: May 24, 2009, 08:55:02 PM »
Jerry, maybe Ron Scott might know.
Peter Dyson has/had some 19th Cent damascus shotgun tubes, some 39" long.
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Offline Dennis Glazener

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Re: Question- damascus barrels
« Reply #6 on: May 24, 2009, 09:23:52 PM »
Ed Rayl had a beautiful Damascus single barrel at our Williamsburg VA show, maybe for an English sporting rifle or fowler, don't remember. I remember thinking it would work well on my English fowler but seeing the price quickly stopped that dream! I would call him and see what he has or can get.

W.E. Rayl, Box 91, Gassoway, W.V. 26624. Ph 304-364-8269
Dennis
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Offline T*O*F

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Re: Question- damascus barrels
« Reply #7 on: May 24, 2009, 11:01:17 PM »
Jerry,
You didn't specify rifle, pistol, or shotgun barrels.  However, Dyson offers all 3 in "as forged" condition with no machining or rifling done.
Dave Kanger

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Offline jerrywh

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Re: Question- damascus barrels
« Reply #8 on: May 25, 2009, 12:39:52 AM »
TOF. I know Dyson has the forged bars.  I think the only way to get a rifle barrel is to have one made from one of his.
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Offline 44-henry

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Re: Question- damascus barrels
« Reply #9 on: May 25, 2009, 01:48:14 AM »
Jerry,
I was looking at the link I posted last night and it looks like people are making barrels out of the stuff that is being currently manufactured (kind of a different process if you read the information sections). If you look at the supplier links the material is being sold here in the states.

Alex Johnson

Offline Ron Scott

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Re: Question- damascus barrels
« Reply #10 on: May 25, 2009, 04:43:59 PM »
I think the item that Acer is refering to  is a Modern Damascus bar made in Sweden by a firm named Damasteel. I believe it is a powder metal process. The result is vivid, consistent and free of any visible flaws. They tout it strong enough for center fire rifles.
I haven't had any business with them in a long time, but as suggested the prices are high.  The firm has a web site.

Offline Blacksmoke

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Re: Question- damascus barrels
« Reply #11 on: May 25, 2009, 05:06:51 PM »
Jerry:  I have a number of old original Damascus barrels- both smooth and rifled- some long(48") and some short pistol barrels.  Any of these can be re-bored honed or re-rifled or even "sleeved"  One of these might work if you can't find anything else where.  Let me know if I can help.   Hugh Toenjes
H.T.

Offline acorn20

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Re: Question- damascus barrels
« Reply #12 on: May 25, 2009, 06:37:32 PM »
Jerry,
I've seen a couple damascus barrels made by Ed Rayl and I'm sure he got the material from Sweden.  I believe the company that Ron Scott noted in his post is the same company.  Get in contact with Ed Rayl but be prepared to lay out some serious money!
Dan
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Offline jerrywh

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Re: Question- damascus barrels
« Reply #13 on: May 25, 2009, 07:46:16 PM »
I have a good friend who wants a set made for a lafever shotgun. That is why I am looking.
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Offline Dphariss

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Re: Question- damascus barrels
« Reply #14 on: May 25, 2009, 10:34:00 PM »
I have a good friend who wants a set made for a lafever shotgun. That is why I am looking.

If I am properly informed the English are doing some damascus, even nitro proofing them.

Dan
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Offline Dan'l 1946

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Re: Question- damascus barrels
« Reply #15 on: May 26, 2009, 01:37:51 AM »
What is considered expensive when referring to a finished Damasteel barrel?  Say a 40+" fowler barrel? The American distributor  www.ssdamascus.com  doesn't list barrels, or at least I didn't find any.
                                                                                          Dan

Offline Jerry V Lape

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Re: Question- damascus barrels
« Reply #16 on: May 26, 2009, 02:56:03 AM »
Dan, the only damascus barrels I have heard the English making was Greener from tubes forged up a century ago.  Peter Dyson also has some of this old stock too.  And they are being made into shotguns which are capable of being proofed to CIP smokeless pressures for shotguns.  The English are also routinely reproof damascus barrels guns made in the late 1800s for smokeless pressures in shotguns.  Proof pressures would probably not exceed approx 18,000 psi for service loads around 11,000 psi. 

The damascus steel being made from the powdered metal process is mostly stainless steel and might not fit the bill for a high art custom longrifle.  Not sure these new barrels don't need some additional heat treatment as well.  They certainly don't have the sophisticated patterns which are found in the antique high art barrels. 

Guess I would consider either using an antique damascus barrel and freshing it up inside, or making a chemise of the antique barrel and putting in a modern steel interior.  Teague in England is full length relining old barrels, damascus and steel, for a reasonable price.  Might be the easiest and best route.  Briley might be doing this work too.   

Offline Acer Saccharum

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Re: Question- damascus barrels
« Reply #17 on: May 26, 2009, 05:13:24 AM »
jerry, did you ever consider the faux damascus pattern with acid resist and etch? Recently someone on the ALR did a very nice rendition of damascus, totally fake, but it looked pretty good.
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Offline Feltwad

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Re: Question- damascus barrels
« Reply #18 on: May 26, 2009, 07:30:22 PM »
Yes we do reproof Damascus barrels here in the UK I have several breech loading hammerguns from the early breech loading period that I have had reproofed for both nitro and blackpowder.It all depends on wall thickness and free of pits  this does entail lapping out the bores until no pits are left.you will find on most hammerguns of that period have a certain amount of pits this is mostly due to the compound in the caps you will also find this in pinfire bores.
Feltwad