Damaxcus SxS

TheKlawMan · May 27, 2012, 06:46 PM

A somewhat insufferable guy was showing off his newest acquisition; a 1890'sh SxS with damascus steel barrels and exterior hammers. He bragged about how he got for $500 and wanted my shooting partner to pull skeet for him. He got ****** when I asked if he had it checked by a smith for safety and of course he hadn't and shot it anyway even after I explained how there can be rust between the layers of steel.

PetahW · May 27, 2012, 06:59 PM

Yep - Put them in your rear view miror, both from him & that gun.

.

oneounceload · May 27, 2012, 08:22 PM

It isn't that those guns can't be safely shot - but as you mentioned, they need to be checked by someone who KNOWS those guns and not just your shade-tree parts replacer

Hawg · May 27, 2012, 08:35 PM

Yeah, they can be fired but do need to be checked. I have one made in the 1850's I shoot and one made in the 1890's or thereabouts I shoot hand loaded bp shells in. I will say this, I grew up shooting damascus barrels with 2 3/4 smokeless loads because I didn't know any better and never had a problem. I even accidentally fired a 3 inch magnum out of an original 1887 Winchester fairly recently and all it did was separate the case head. I do not do it now or recommend or condone the practice tho.

Jeremiah/Az · May 27, 2012, 11:13 PM

Dumascus barrels were made for black powder only, not modern smokeless high pressure loads.

oneounceload · May 28, 2012, 09:10 AM

But there are modern smokeless low-pressure ammo designed for them from the likes of Polywad and RST

Pahoo · May 28, 2012, 10:11 AM

As in most things, it comes down to a matter of "TRUST" ....

Do you trust Damascus barrels?
Do you trust the Smith that inspected it?
Do you trust the shells you shoot?
Do you trust that left-over chicken in the refrigerator?

All in all, is it worth taking a chance and shooting it on a regular basis, if at all. Would you tell the next guy that shooer, that it can be trusted. Even though I have done so, my measure says NO ! ...

Be Safe !!!

zippy13 · May 28, 2012, 12:30 PM

Tie your camel, indeed.

Shooting stupid: sometimes natural selection needs to be nudged. We always need candidates for next year's Darwin Awards.

TheKlawMan · May 28, 2012, 02:35 PM

I barely spoke with the guy, but my older shooting partner gets along with him pretty well. I will ask him to find out what kind of shells the guy is shooting. I should of thought of it then but I think they looked like modern shells.

Hawg · May 28, 2012, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Do you trust Damascus barrels?
Do you trust the Smith that inspected it?
Do you trust the shells you shoot?
Do you trust that left-over chicken in the refrigerator?

Yes with the correct loads
Yes
yes
Depends on how long it's been in the fridge.

TheKlawMan · May 28, 2012, 05:40 PM

Apparently he is shooting modern ammunition. Whether it is designed for his old gun I don't know. I was thinking leave it alone, but sincde it is possible that the guy standing next to the Darwin Award candidate is the one injured, I will find a way to see what he is using.

oneounceload · May 28, 2012, 05:56 PM

Klaw - RST and Polywad sell modern loads developed for older guns

TheKlawMan · May 28, 2012, 06:33 PM

I saw where you noted that above, oneounce, and he may have the right stuff but it won't hurt to get a look at it.

May 27, 2012, 06:46 PM	#1
TheKlawMan Junior member Join Date: June 23, 2009 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 2,149	Damaxcus SxS A somewhat insufferable guy was showing off his newest acquisition; a 1890'sh SxS with damascus steel barrels and exterior hammers. He bragged about how he got for $500 and wanted my shooting partner to pull skeet for him. He got ****** when I asked if he had it checked by a smith for safety and of course he hadn't and shot it anyway even after I explained how there can be rust between the layers of steel.

May 28, 2012, 10:11 AM	#7
Pahoo Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2006 Location: IOWA Posts: 8,783	Trust in Allah but tie your camel !!! As in most things, it comes down to a matter of "TRUST" .... Do you trust Damascus barrels? Do you trust the Smith that inspected it? Do you trust the shells you shoot? Do you trust that left-over chicken in the refrigerator? All in all, is it worth taking a chance and shooting it on a regular basis, if at all. Would you tell the next guy that shooer, that it can be trusted. Even though I have done so, my measure says NO ! ... Be Safe !!! __________________ 'Fundamental truths' are easy to recognize because they are verified daily through simple observation and thus, require no testing.

May 28, 2012, 02:35 PM	#9
TheKlawMan Junior member Join Date: June 23, 2009 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 2,149	I barely spoke with the guy, but my older shooting partner gets along with him pretty well. I will ask him to find out what kind of shells the guy is shooting. I should of thought of it then but I think they looked like modern shells. Last edited by TheKlawMan; May 28, 2012 at 02:41 PM.

May 27, 2012, 06:59 PM	#2
PetahW Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2008 Posts: 4,678	Yep - Put them in your rear view miror, both from him & that gun. .

May 27, 2012, 08:22 PM	#3
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	It isn't that those guns can't be safely shot - but as you mentioned, they need to be checked by someone who KNOWS those guns and not just your shade-tree parts replacer

May 27, 2012, 08:35 PM	#4
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	Yeah, they can be fired but do need to be checked. I have one made in the 1850's I shoot and one made in the 1890's or thereabouts I shoot hand loaded bp shells in. I will say this, I grew up shooting damascus barrels with 2 3/4 smokeless loads because I didn't know any better and never had a problem. I even accidentally fired a 3 inch magnum out of an original 1887 Winchester fairly recently and all it did was separate the case head. I do not do it now or recommend or condone the practice tho.

May 27, 2012, 11:13 PM	#5
Jeremiah/Az Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2009 Location: Az. Posts: 509	Dumascus barrels were made for black powder only, not modern smokeless high pressure loads.

May 28, 2012, 09:10 AM	#6
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	But there are modern smokeless low-pressure ammo designed for them from the likes of Polywad and RST

May 28, 2012, 12:30 PM	#8
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	Tie your camel, indeed. Shooting stupid: sometimes natural selection needs to be nudged. We always need candidates for next year's Darwin Awards.

May 28, 2012, 05:40 PM	#11
TheKlawMan Junior member Join Date: June 23, 2009 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 2,149	Apparently he is shooting modern ammunition. Whether it is designed for his old gun I don't know. I was thinking leave it alone, but sincde it is possible that the guy standing next to the Darwin Award candidate is the one injured, I will find a way to see what he is using.

May 28, 2012, 05:56 PM	#12
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	Klaw - RST and Polywad sell modern loads developed for older guns

May 28, 2012, 06:33 PM	#13
TheKlawMan Junior member Join Date: June 23, 2009 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 2,149	I saw where you noted that above, oneounce, and he may have the right stuff but it won't hurt to get a look at it.