Thoughts of days gone by

[Dave Grubb]

When my sons were all home we shot a lot of trap, often with friends that shot trap. We have a trap range beyond the barn. In those days I bought shells by the pallet. We would shot on a frequent basis and on one Sunday in the middle of Oct of each year we would have a grand meet---we would begin at 9 AM and shoot until dusk---complete with a spread of food and non-alcoholic drinks.

It would correspond to the end of the garden season and I would pick all my remaining peppers and turn them into a "pepper relish", on occasion pilled high on a hot dog by some unfortunate soul----to everyone else's great glee

In preparation for a "reunion" shoot this weekend, my grandson brought a case of shells up from the basement---and announced I needed to buy more shells because there was only one case left.

I think my days of buying pallets of 12 ga shells is past, as are most of my friends who used to shoot with us, I'll settle down to buying them by the case now

Today our only guest will be my SIL---but I will think often of those past shoots and past friends.

[Truckman]

I haven't burned any powder in about 12 years now, even though yesterday I bought my 129th and 130th gun since kickstarting my old collection last September...I should probably at least shoot the ones I carry on a daily basis, but ammo is just priced plumb out of reach for a retiree on a fixed income......Ben

[Dave Grubb]

Ben siad: "....my 129th and 130th gun".

That is a number I refuse to know---so that when my wife asks me how many guns I have I can truthfully say: "I don't know".

[Truckman]

That is a number I refuse to know---so that when my wife asks me how many guns I have I can truthfully say: "I don't know".

I didn't say I still have them all...I also trade...Right now I'm in the middle of washing & waxing the newly acquired family members so I don't have an accurate count, but my best guess would be about 65 on premises...Including my various business FFL's, I've owned approximately 18,000 guns, some only briefly, and only the aforementioned number currently...

I don't know either......Ben

[UTAH]

Just thinking: Anyone else follow Rick's interest in firearms on Pawn Stars? Personally, I think he takes advantage of sellers, but they aren't forced to make bad deals.

I find the history behind the items bought/sold on Pawn Stars fascinating.

Hunter

[Dave Grubb]

I do watch Pawn Stars on occasion. I have to admit to being a little less bold when first firing old guns. That is a good use of Chum---if I were Rick I would classify Chum as expendable.

Anyway---I always test fired antique rifles on the bench---tied down to the bench and a string around the trigger. I never had one blow up on me but I wasn't about to be holding the first one that might blow up in my face!

Ones that I will not fire at all are Damascus steel barrels---that is risky beyond my limit. I have a few beautiful Damascus steel double barrels---and they are like beautiful ladies---I stop with looking.

[UTAH]

Neither the actions nor the barrels of many Damascus-barreled guns were made sturdily enough in the breech area to handle smokeless powder ammunition.
- NRA Site

Interesting, I did not know that.

Hunter

[wacojoe]

I have some Damascus steel knives, but I had never heard of a gun made of it.
Pictures, Dave?

[Dave Grubb]

I have some Damascus steel knives, but I had never heard of a gun made of it.
Pictures, Dave?

Here is an early Parker Bros double. The spiral wound pattern is very attractive but I would never want to fire it.


...and a report of yesterday's shoot: My 14 year old grandson and 12 year old grand daughter did reasonably well. Their 11 year old sister was relegated happily to a 22 rifle. They enticed me to join in. They didn't have a big challenge in succeeding with that---and I am glad to report that Poppy put on a show---their comment----boy Poppy---you still have it

I posted a perfect round---and then went and sat down

Wearing only a tee shirt my shoulder told me not to shoot a round of doubles---which I used to love

[wacojoe]

Quality time spent…

I am having trouble picturing in my mind how the layers of metal would be laid down to from a spiral blank for a gun barrel. Interesting. When you said “early,” do you know when?

Incidentally, one of my folding Damascus blade knives has Mastodon tusk scales. I never carry it because I am prone to losing my carry knives. It is a beautiful thing too.

[Dave Grubb]

Quality time spent…

I am having trouble picturing in my mind how the layers of metal would be laid down to from a spiral blank for a gun barrel. Interesting. When you said “early,” do you know when?

Most stopped their use in the late 1800s--but not all. Parker Bros continued to offer Damascus barrels until about 1926. I have a very high grade Parker made in 1916 and it does not have Damascus barrels. Parker did not make the Damascus barrels, like many other gun makers they bought barrels from barrel manufactures. I have a lovely J.P. Sauer pre-WWII double shotgun with "Krupp Fluid Steel" barrels stamped into the barrels.

Incidentally, one of my folding Damascus blade knives has Mastodon tusk scales. I never carry it because I am prone to losing my carry knives. It is a beautiful thing too.

I have a very old broad axe with a cast iron head and a steel edge hammer welded to the head. The edge is about 3" wide.

As to the how the barrels were made---this is truly one of those cases where a picture is worth a thousand words---it is a rather intricate process and shown here far better than I could hope to explain' The simple explanation is that the combination of heat and repeated blows "marries" the individual pieces together.

[Dave Grubb]

A little more about the Sauer. Also stamped on the barrels is "Essen" the location in Germany of Krupp. On the side of the locks with Sauer and Sohn is Suhl---which ended up in East Germany after WWII. The fact that the "Fluid Steel" is in English indicates this gun was made for export, possibly to Britain. I say that because this gun has sling swivels which I am sure are original to the gun and a monte carlo style stock. It is the second gun down in this picture. The Parker is just below that.

[Truckman]

Also stamped on the barrels is "Essen" the location in Germany of Krupp.

Any history buff, or any student of firearms who has not read "The Arms of Krupp" by William Manchester is doing himself a disservice...My copy is several decades old, and has been re-read several times......Ben

[wacojoe]

…As to the how the barrels were made---this is truly one of those cases where a picture is worth a thousand words---it is a rather intricate process and shown here far better than I could hope to explain' The simple explanation is that the combination of heat and repeated blows "marries" the individual pieces together.

Fascinating. I’m with the first comment under the video (which I could not copy & paste) in which the commenter remarks about how much more effort it would take to produce long barrels and put them together. Quite remarkable craftsmanship had to go into your Parker Damascus even if your are trepidatious about firing it.

[UTAH]

I found the Mastadon comment interesting. Are we talking the big hairy extinct ones? If so, COOL.

Hunter