Damaxcus SxS

T

TheKlawMan

Moderator
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.
 
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
 
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.
 
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 !!!
 
Tie your camel, indeed. :)

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

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