Spencer Pump Shotgun and Its Damascus Barrel

[Two Flints]

Hello SSS,

I have been reading the book, "The American Shotgun" by David F. Butler.  

In the section where he writes about the Spencer Shotgun he states: "The solid steel barrel was given a surface finish to make it look like the more expensive, but weaker Damascus barrel".

If the above statement is true that would alay fears that owners of the Spencer Shotgun have that the barrel is subject to cracking, splitting, a dangerous condition if the Damascus? Barrel should weaken because of rust, age or pressure from within.

Has anyone read of a similar comment like that offered by Mr. Butler regarding the actual composition of the barrel Spencer used in manufacturing his shotgun?  Spencer's actual  advertisements for his Shotgun mention only a Damascus Barrel.

Any comments?

Two Flints

[Colt Fanning]

Howdy,
This was done in the day.  I shoot a Richards 12 ga double (Belgium knockoff of a Westley Richards) that is labeled
Fine Damascus Finish on the barrel Rib.  There is no trace of the finish except in the protected area where the barrels
join the rib.  A painted on finish is preserved there.
Regards
Colt

[SGT John Chapman]

I know a lot of people worry about the damascus,....I've shot a WHOLE BUNCH of them....My O'l man had a LC Smith we shot the heck out of,....we just shot respectable BP loads for them.  I still would,....never had one fail but I never shot one that looked like it would fail.....
Another Feller my Dad hunted with shot an old Damascas sxs Flintlock it was from the early 1800s he said,....think it was a Purdey...they were hunting ducks with it,...

[Trailrider]

The easiest way to tell if the "Damascining" on a barrel was simply finish is to have it tested by Non-Destructive Testing (NDT), probably magnetic particle.

While top quality Damascus barrels were probably just as strong as fluid steel barrels when they were new, the problem with the twist steel barrels is what has happened in the seam boundaries over time!  Intergranular corrosion may have set up along the grain boundaries at the seams, and there is no way to tell if they are sound, even by re-proofing.  They could be fine for the proof shot, and let go 2 rounds, 10 rounds or 1000 rounds later.  Just no way to tell.  I'd either use inserts (difficult in a repeater), have the barrel relined or replaced (bad idea for a collector's piece) or hang it on the wall!

[Tascosa Joe]

Double Gun Journal had a continuing article about 2 years ago about this subject.  The author gathered up several clunker LC Smith, Parker, LeFevor and a couple of English guns with damascus and steel barrels, then he tried to blow them up with high pressure loads.  You would be surprised how much it took to blow any of them up.  The damascus barreled guns held there own.

Also most damascus barrels were made in Belgium.  All American makers imported rough damascus barrels and finished them here.  From what I have read, no damascus barrels were made in the US commercially.