Talk on Damascus barrels and old shotguns.

[Warden Callaway]

Good overview on old shotguns.  

 

 

[Trailrider #896]

All well and good, as far as it goes. However, UNLESS the gun is stamped or otherwise shown to have been NITRO PROOFED, it will have been proofed for Black Powder only, though it won't say so on the gun. There are various proof marks on European-made guns that will tell to what standard they were proofed for that country. A long time ago, Gun Digest had an extensive article showing proof marks and standards for British, French, German, Austrian, and Belgian standards, according to the date of the law for that particular test. The chamber lengths will NOT be shown in English units of measure. They will be shown in metric. If the marking is "65", then it is a 2-1/2" chamber, and as the video says, that is the length of shell after being fired that can be used. ONLY if the mark is "70" can a 2-3/4" shell be safely used. HOWEVER...if the gun has only been proofed for black powder, then it is highly likely it was only shot with black powder shells. The problem there is one never knows how well the gun was cleaned immediately after using. In that case, there is the possibility of intergrannular corrosion having developed along the seams of the Damascus twist. You cannot determine if that is the case with Non-destructive tests. Therefore, I highly recommend the gun be hung on the wall, or, if one can find them, the use of modern steel inserts, such as Savage Four-tenners" be used with .410 shells!