Damascus Barrel

That was a thoroughly enjoyable half-hour or so of viewing, stopping, re-winding and viewing again.

Leads me to wonder a couple-few somethin's:

I can't help but wonder what became of all of the cool blacksmith items between the original filming and showing the establishment later abandoned? 1925 to 1931... Victims of The Depression, I guess?

I would have love to have seen the grinding and polishing operations. Most particularly after seeing those gargantuan polishing wheels in the background.

Weaving that inventor's name into the Damascus is stunning. I've never seen anything like that as I recall.

Does anyone know exactly what the operation performed at; 14:30 & 15:17 is called?
Also, what is the diagonal tool leaning into the fixture that he is working against?

This great film gave me my new favorite French word: "Forgeron"!

Todd.

tws3b2 said:

That's it for me. The "Wonder". How did they do that with what they had. Technology was an idea in their head and the strength in their hands. Can you imagine what that barrel with the inventors name would be worth today?

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And, were one to have that gun and then stumble upon this film. What a coup that'd be.

Todd.

I am very glad I watched that. I knew the basic concept of Damascus , but to see thaose two craftsman wrap the "ribbons" to begin the formation of a barrel was a real eye opener.
Iron men shaping steel.

Thank you for posting that remarkable video!

Waveski said:

... but to see those two craftsman wrap the "ribbons" to begin the formation of a barrel was a real eye opener.

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I found the senior 'smith regulating the rate of twist with water and tapping to be one of the most intriguing aspects of the entire film. To see a close-up of him doing that would have been quite a treat.

Todd.

Here is another fascinating video.

Well that was 90 minutes well spent.
Thanks

ApacheCoTodd said:

Does anyone know exactly what the operation performed at; 14:30 & 15:17 is called?

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Looks to me like it's either smoothing out the hammer marks, working a bend straight, or just descaling.
I'd say that most likely, and simplest, would be descaling. Hot steel forms a scale of oxides or impurities, to simplify it, as it cools. You don't want to work that back in if you can help it. At the very least, it would prevent an accurate measurement.

The entire operation consisted of a forge, anvils with grooves in them, and hammers. Decidedly low tech, nothing more than an average blacksmith's shop would have.

None of the skilled labor was particularly young. I felt the urge for physical therapy as I watched them hammering away repeatedly with heavy implements.

Just shows what you can do with next to nothing, but no doubt a lost art. An artisan today who could make bespoke guns with parts like this for the billionaire club could charge whatever he wanted. Imagine if he could include the buyer's names in the steel like they did....

Great film, thanks for posting.

Looking around, that film was made ca 1925-1930 at one of the last of the Belgian Damascus barrel makers, possibly the only one to resume after WW I. Obviously a small operation with all hand tools.
Surely operations were bigger when Damascus was standard. In 1906 makers in Liege turned out 850 TONS of barrels.

Greener will cheerfully build you a shotgun with two sets of barrels, one set of new steel, one of old stock (1903) Damascus.