The link below is to a document on my web site, describing how antique damascus gun barrels were made which have words in the damascus patterns. I wrote this document, having been asked by firearms historians, researchers and collectors to explain the process of creating these damascus patterns.
I thought it a good idea to share this information on the ABS Forum. Perhaps it will be as inspirational to some, as it is informative.
Given that few in the primary audience for this information are knowledgeable about the making of damascus steel, some of the basic illustrations in this document will be found rather simplistic and redundant to skilled damascus smiths. My hope was to provide enough information so that readers who lack a basic understanding of the process of making damascus patterns can comprehend it.
Modern damascus smiths and bladesmiths will find some of the terminology unusual. Damascus gun barrels were made 100 to 150 years ago. They were made in a number of countries, by people speaking different languages. The barrels were then marketed to manufacturers in other countries who may, or may not, have used their own descriptive terminology. Conversations between myself and firearms historians/researchers have required that we each come to understand what terms mean the same thing in different languages. There is a short Glossary of Terminology near the end of this document.
I relied heavily on Thor II© for creation of many of the illustrations. Thor II© was developed by Christian Schnura. There is a link to Christian’s web site on page 36 of this document, where he has made a download of Thor II© available to all.
This document is a 6MB PDF file. The large size file is necessary to allow for zooming to better view the photos of the gun barrels.
Steve
Well done and fascinating.
Anthony
Absolutely fascinating! This is wonderful Steve.
I agree - Steve, this is a super cool article - thanks for sharing all that info!
Thank you very much Steve. That's a library item.
Joshua States
www.dosgatosforge.com
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdJMFMqnbLYqv965xd64vYg
https://www.facebook.com/dos.gatos.71
Also on Instagram and Facebook as J.States Bladesmith
“So I'm lightin' out for the territory, ahead of the scared and the weak and the mean spirited, because Aunt Sally is fixin’ to adopt me and civilize me, and I can't stand it. I've been there before.â€
Excellent Steve! A lot to digest there. Interesting how they all seem to be based off an almost merovingian twist pattern. Good stuff.
Brion
Brion Tomberlin
Anvil Top Custom Knives
ABS Mastersmith
Thanks for sharing Steve, very interesting.
Glad you found this information to be interesting! This document (I hope) is destined to be a part of a book that I am writing about damascus gun barrel patterns. It took a long time to put together all of the illustrations for this. Partly answers the question: “Why don’t he make more knives?†<img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//blink.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':blink:' />
I thought it would be great to share this information on the forum, for anyone who might wish to create damascus patterns with words in them. Understanding how the orientation of the words in the billet affect the pattern is good to know. Also interesting to see how the old damascus smiths ground away the mirror image lettering to avoid having it show in the finished pattern. I’ve seen some modern smiths make damascus with words and leave the backwards lettering in the pattern. Doesn’t have to be that way.
The terminology differences and variations have been challenging in my conversations with firearms historians and researchers. Been a lot of; “what do you mean by that?†questions. It’s fascinating that the firearms folks are in a whole different world, in regards to damascus making and finishing. They had never communicated with a modern damascus smith until I came on the scene. All of their information was from old books and documents, written about 100 years ago. Many of these old writings were incorrect in the description of the process used to make damascus gun barrels. It’s been fun to help them discover mysteries about damascus that they never had a chance to know before.
Awesome, thanks very much for sharing!
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">
Información Fascinante, para un principiante como yo hace explotar la cabeza y los pensamientos. </font><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Muchas gracias por compartir.
</font></font><div><font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Saludos desde el sur del mundo</font></font></div><div><font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Puerto Montt.</font></font></div><div><font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Chile</font></font></div>
Mi guel Angel Sanhueza Lang.
Cuchillos Artesanales Yensen
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Puerto Montt
Chile
Very cool.
Thanks for sharing.
