applied breach applications on flintlock fowlers

[jerrywh]

Attached are photos of three Russian Flintlock guns with breach applications probably silver soldered on. Why do I think so? #1 the applications are not Damascus steel as the barrels are and they are heat blued, Heat bluing will show Damascus patterns. Soft solder is too unreliable. These types of things seem impossible unless you look at them incrementally.  I believe the breach on Ron's pistol is done the same way. However, as I say nobody is always correct.
 

[Ed Wenger]

Thanks, Jerry..., interesting and informative.  Beautiful pistols.


           Ed

[flatsguide]

Yes, to what Ed said. It seams reasonable to assume the ornamentation was applied after the fact. It would be a lot easier to work on a small part then apply it than to have to have to work on a more awkward to work on barrel.
Richard