American Gun company double - steel barrels?

Pony Racer · May 23, 2009, 05:24:12 PM

Gents anybody know if these are solid steel barrels or fluid?

The number on gun was

3784494

looked like nickel steel

Anyone know for sure?

Delmonico · May 23, 2009, 05:32:41 PM

The term fluid steel is generally used to mean a barrel drilled from solid stock so they are one and the same. Are you thinking of twist steel or as it sometimes call Damascus steel which of course is forge weled up around a mandrel from a combo of iron and steel? If so the pattern would show.

Pony Racer · May 23, 2009, 05:37:51 PM

Definitely not damascus.

You should have seen the bores they were almost mirror clean.

I thought fluid steel and modern proofed steel were different things

Mako · May 23, 2009, 11:07:35 PM

Quote from: Delmonico on May 23, 2009, 05:32:41 PM
The term fluid steel is generally used to mean a barrel drilled from solid stock so they are one and the same. Are you thinking of twist steel or as it sometimes call Damascus steel which of course is forge weled up around a mandrel from a combo of iron and steel? If so the pattern would show.

Actually that's not correct...Pony Racer was correct in his question.

Fluid steel was made using the Whitworth Process which he invented in the 19th century. Bethlehem Steel used the trade name Fluid Compressed Steel for the material they produced. In the process increasing pressure was applied to the fluid ingot. Anywhere from 3 to 10 tons psi and held for a period of time. The ingot was usually held in a column and shortened about 12 to 13% of the original length. So Fluid steel is not hammer forged like "Damascus" steel but it is not in the same class as simple solid steel. Shotgun manufacturers who used it stressed the difference, and barrels that were constructed from it were much stronger than barrels made from simple cast or even rolled steel.

Regards,
Mako

Dr. Bob · May 24, 2009, 12:08:41 AM

Make,

Thanks for the real skinny! Great to know more about the terms used in our toys!

Jed Cooper · May 24, 2009, 08:14:19 AM

Pony, If you are wondering if it is safe to shoot, i would say yes. I have several hammer guns, including lc smiths,1889 remmingtons,and a few more. I still usually take my american gun co. 12 ga. In fact I will be using it again this year at the NCOWS nationals. I Shoot every thing in min from BP loads to standard 2 3/4 factory loads. just no mags or steel shot. hope this helps Jed

Springfield Slim · May 25, 2009, 11:33:00 AM

I do believer American Gun Company is just another name for a shotgun made by the Crescent Firearms Company. In case you need parts or want to look up the age of it. And a shiny bore is not proof of NOT being Damascus. I have 2 Damascus/twist steel barrels that are perfect inside. Probably the best looking barrels I have, in fact. One a hammerless LC, the other a Belgium hammergun I just got from Dusty Morningwood.

Pony Racer · May 25, 2009, 12:12:31 PM

Thanks guys

If this is damascus than it does not have a pattern that can be seen with the naked eye - I have never seen a damascus barrel like that - so pretty certain it is not damascus.

It looks like someone messed with the very top of the barrel at some point - which may explain the lack of markings.

Unfortunately a second look at gun under neath revealed what looks like the one barrel coming away from the rib area and that nice ring one should hear sounded like a thud when i pinged the barrels - which is another sign that what appears to be a seperation most likely is.

Due to all that I am going to let the old girl stay on the rackand showed the gun store the issue - it is a consignment gun - so they said they would call the guy.

PR

Springfield Slim · May 25, 2009, 05:50:56 PM

I've got a very nice steel barrelled internal hammer Crescent gun, 30" barrels. Just no buttstock, and I haven't had time to make one. Anybody want to trade me something for it?

Jamie · May 27, 2009, 07:55:43 AM

While not on the subject of this particular shotgun, it seems like it might be worth noting another "Damascus anomoly" in a shotgun I have. Back in the day, there was a time frame when Damascus was considered the creme-de-la-creme or some such thing, and a fair number of guns were available with either set of barrels (or both) with the Damascus bringing the premium price - no doubt due to the labor involved. As a result some shotguns were imported with "Twist Belgium" or some other misleading wording on the barrel when, in fact, they were not twist. I've got an old hammer double (a Hamiliton) in this situation, which I've had examined by a competent gunsmith. It ain't Damascus. It pays to really look them over and approach with caution, but it was an interesting time in the evolution of the gun.
Jamie

Patrick Henry Brown · July 07, 2009, 09:55:16 AM

They also made them in Laminated Steel Barrels which do not look like Damascus, but have the same potential flaws of Damascus. I bought an American Gun Co. SxS a while back and it was Genuine Laminated Steel. The others I have are marked Genuine Armory Steel. Sold the laminated steel as I refrain from shooting Damascus of Laminated in CAS.

Dalton Masterson · July 08, 2009, 09:51:31 AM

I think my American Gun Co. hammered double is marked fluid steel on the barrel. It needs a buttstock tho, if anyone has a rough one? The rest of the gun is so beat up, that it dont justify buying a new stock from Boyds for it.
DM

Pony Racer · July 14, 2009, 12:53:31 PM

There is another gun with fluid steel in great condition that I am looking at - almost same configuration and wood.

I may buy this one.

Dang do I love shotguns!!

PR