Damascus steel rifles

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Damascus steel rifles

Post by AlanK » 20 Sep 2017, 11:28 am

Does anyone know if they can or do make Damascus steel rifles?

I reckon that'd be a cool look.

They only seem to do shotguns though. It is a strength/pressure thing then?

Just wondering why there seem to be none.
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Re: Damascus steel rifles

Post by GLS_1956 » 20 Sep 2017, 11:37 am

The only Damascus steel rifle I've ever seen was an old flintlock musket/rifle in a museum.. I believe that there is someone making a 1911 clone where the slide and frame are Damascus steel.
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Re: Damascus steel rifles

Post by marksman » 20 Sep 2017, 11:55 am

Damascus steel would not hold up to todays powders and would blow up
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Re: Damascus steel rifles

Post by huccl » 20 Sep 2017, 1:00 pm

Pity, it would definitely be a looker.
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Re: Damascus steel rifles

Post by Ben78 » 20 Sep 2017, 8:54 pm

Custom 37 in Tamworth had one in the pipeline this time last year. From memory the whole process is not in the least bit affordable, however will result in serious "show-off" factor.
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Re: Damascus steel rifles

Post by Oldbloke » 20 Sep 2017, 11:03 pm

marksman wrote:Damascus steel would not hold up to todays powders and would blow up


I recon that's right.
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Re: Damascus steel rifles

Post by No1Mk3 » 21 Sep 2017, 12:21 pm

You blokes decrying the strength of Damascus barrels are way off track. I once owned a Mannlicher-Schoenauer rifle with set triggers in 9.3x64 Brenneke that had a Damascus barrel. Made around 1930, it was fabulous. While the majority of Damascus steel rifle and pistol barrels you will see are from muzzle loading arms, many top class European and English big game rifles were also made with them, Purdey will STILL make one for you ($$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$), and from Czech Rebublic,
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Re: Damascus steel rifles

Post by No1Mk3 » 21 Sep 2017, 12:38 pm

Initially said Holland & Holland in my post, mea culpa, had to edit it, it is Purdey. Still the same small nation GDP to buy it though,
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Re: Damascus steel rifles

Post by Archie » 21 Sep 2017, 2:55 pm

This isn't damascus steel, its' damascene - which is a completely different thing - but if you do like your guns with serious bling...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KM7ySNWuqU
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Re: Damascus steel rifles

Post by Gwion » 22 Sep 2017, 3:34 pm

Damascus always has a potential for weaknesses due to it being different steels welded together but done with full industrial processes and inspection and testing, I can't see why it wouldn't be useable in a rifle (as illustrated above). It would be horrendously expensive, though.
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Re: Damascus steel rifles

Post by No1Mk3 » 22 Sep 2017, 6:05 pm

The Brno is almost certainly Damascene, but my Mannlicher was not. The Purdey on the other hand, uses a steel process called Damas, which is neither "original" Damascus twist forging over a mandrel, nor is it Damascene inlay. It is a process of sintered steel, hot rolled and then twist forged in a similar method to Damascus, but not shaped over mandrels, rather hammer forged like modern barrels but having a surface finish like fine Damascus. Price starts at $100 000, then heads North quite rapidly. Cheers.
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