Testing for Damascus

[LynnC]

I've enjoyed reading all the posts recently about refinishing damascus barrels.  I've one old fowler that someone polished brite and then handled with acid fingers - Not I though, just the way I aquired it.  This barrel is a good candidate for a refinish.

How do I test for damascus to see if it is before I end up just browning it?

Thanks............................Lynn

[Feltwad]

Most Damascus barrels you should be able to see the pattern whether polished or not.For a quick result if in doubt just rub the barrel with a damp cloth and let it stand for 12 hrs if there is a pattern it will then show.
Feltwad

[doug]

sand the metal bright with abrasive paper or tape, degrease and wipe the metal with copper sulphate.  The pattern will show up immediately.  If the barrel is an original british fowler, post 1800, odds are extremely good that it is damascus.  The only british barrels I have seen that don't appear to be damascus are 20 guage trade gun barrels

cheers Doug

[LynnC]

Thank you Gents for the insight.  When I said polished brite that may have been generous - More like roughly sanded brite.  Anyway that was about 10 years ago and now looks pretty cruddy with the rusty prints and a little natural browning over the years.  Thats what got me looking for a pattern.  There may be one showing thru.  I'll follow your instructions and see if there really is one.

BTW - Where can one find copper sulfate?.........................Lynn

[Dennis Glazener]

I soaked a paper towel in vinegar and wrapped the metal in it. Left it on over night and the Damascus pattern was there the next morning.
Dennis

[LynnC]

Polishing the bottom breech flats down to 400 grit and will try a couple of the suggestions.  Hope to see a pattern in a day or so.  Thanks!..............Lynn

[LynnC]

No pattern that I can tell - Oh well.

Thanks for the info.  Guess I'll brown it........................Lynn

[keweenaw]

Lynn,

The bottom breech flats are about the worst place to look for a pattern.  If the barrels are a stub twist, the pattern would be hard to see there.   Test it out on the barrels before you give up.  A stub twist pattern will be much more subtle than a later three or four wire twist pattern with the areas of each type of strip much larger.

Tom

[LynnC]

Well I've begun to brown it now.  I'll card & brown it some more - we'll see if anything appears but I think its plain iron.

How would the bottom flats differ in any way from any of the other flats as far as looking for a pattern?  Other than not being as finely polished as the upper flats maybe.........................Lynn

[karwelis]

I soaked a paper towel in vinegar and wrapped the metal in it. Left it on over night and the Damascus pattern was there the next morning.
Dennis

i do that on"normal" barrels, and have a pattern. i even posted a pic here some time ago, and had some of you ask if that was a damascus barrel, so viniger is not a test.

karwelis

[LynnC]

I must admit that I've wrapped a piece of steel in dry rag and left it for a week or 3 and found a "pattern".  Humidity I guess.

Gotta go card it again and ad more browning solution............................Lynn