Old musket barrel for ID

[Pukka Bundook]

There is a lot of incorrect information regarding stub twist and later 2 and 3-stripe Damascus, and how it shouldn't be used.
If good quality it can be as sound now as the day it was made.

I believe in Greener's (1910) book, it mentions destruction testing with Whitworth fluid steel barrels, other steel barrels and Damascus barrels.
The one that stood the most, was a good English 3-stripe Damascus, the second was also a Damascus,(2-stripe I think) and the third best was drawn steel.
After that, they went back and forth down the line.
We have in the family a few Damascus barreled old guns that have been nitro proved and passed with flying colours. One (second hand) was given to my grandfather for his 21st birthday in 1919. (Sidelock ejector) It has fired Thousand of cartridges and is still on the face and as sound as a bell.

The cheap "Sham-dam Damascus from the Continent and US has given all Damascus a bad name, quite un-deservedly!

Good quality is the key, as in all things. :-)

Best,
Richard.

Edited to add that although sound as a bell, any black powder proof barrel should not be used with Nitro powder, whether Damascus , stub twist or steel/iron.
Cheers,
R.