I thought that I would post up the results of a damascus project that I have been working on. I have successfully made a twist damascus gun barrel. Accomplishing the making of a damascus barrel has been a major challenge. I have spent two years of research on this and literally months of shop time on it. I have finally managed to make a damascus barrel and have conducted proof firing tests on it.
This barrel is made by the same process as has been traditionally used for twist barrels. It started as two billets of 26 layer damascus. The billets were drawn out into 1/2" square rods. The rods were twisted, one to the right, one to the left. The twisted rods were forged welded together into a single rod; or riband, in damascus barrel terminology. The riband is wound around a mandrel to form a coil. The coil is forge welded to make a solid barrel tube. The tube is then drilled and reamed to the final bore dimensions and the outside of the tube is turned to final dimension.
I videoed the entire proof firing sequence. There is a 21 minute video of the entire process, including loading, firing and inspection of the barrel after firing. There is also a short video of just the barrel being fired.
The barrel was proof fired with a patched .490" round ball. The powder charges were FFF black powder. First load, 30 grains of powder. Second load, 35 grains. Third load, 40 grains.
It isn't a knife, but I hope you enjoy!!
[media] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8NU6ZRRazc [/media]
[media] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_LgU1vXKAM [/media]
Great job Steve. I know you have been working on this one for a long time. I didn't realise you were that close to it. That must be a massive personal triumph. Thanks for posting the video and for updating those of us that knew about the project. This has blown my mind for the day.
Super Cool, and really quite lovely. I hope we get to see pictures of the finished gun. Justin
Thanks Guys!!!
There will definitely be pictures of the finished gun.
The piece is basically a flintlock pistol, with a bowie blade on one side of the stock. It is a side-lock. I designed the lock-work. I am making all of the major parts of the lock out of damascus. I have most of the lock finished. The damascus blade is forged and rough ground. I still need to make the damascus breech plug for the barrel. I have not started the stock work yet.
Okay this is going to be a good one Steve. Will we get some type of work in progress? The finished piece will be great.
Brion
Brion Tomberlin
Anvil Top Custom Knives
ABS Mastersmith
I started out with the intention of video documenting the building of this entire project. I did tape most of it, but didn't bother with some of the lock-work build. I do have most of the process for this barrel recorded. I am getting requests from the firearms people to post a video of the barrel making on the doubleguns forum. So, I guess I should put that together. I can post it here on this forum too.
I have some really good, professional quality video editing software. Which means, I can barely figure out how to use it. I have all of the taping of my previous, failed attempts to make a barrel. I could put together a two hour documentary on how to ruin perfectly good damascus by trying to make a gun barrel out of it. <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//laugh.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lol:' />
That's exciting. Congrats! Will you have anything for us to see next weekend?
Gary
|quoted:
That's exciting. Congrats! Will you have anything for us to see next weekend?
Gary
Next weekend? I was hoping to see something by January in San Antonio!
Great work Steve, or as a French carpenter I know would say "not bad for your first try!"
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€
Thanks Gary and Josh!!!
I will have the barrel and the lock-work at the Heartland Symposium. I plan to have the finished cut-n-shoot in San Antonio.
I put together a video of short clips, from filming that I took while making the damascus gun barrel.
[media] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7eacS2oDcs [/media]
Thanks, Steve. Great video. That answers many of the questions that I had.
Looking forward to see this one progress.
Gary
Steve
This is an outstanding video. Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge and experience.
Dan Cassidy
Journeyman Smith
Send an email to Dan
Great video! Thanks for taking the time to make it and share it with us!
That was very informative. One of my friends is a gunsmith and we want to try this sort of project one day. We thought of trying to make a 12 gauge barrel. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience. <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />
Thanks guys!!!
Jason,
Actually, the video is not so informative. To keep the video short, there are a few critical aspects of the barrel welding process that are not included. Also; I'm not trying to be secretive about my process, but as I have only been successful at this once, I am still not certain that I have discovered the best way to go about it. Once I am more certain of the process, I will definitely be willing to share all that I know.
Not to discourage you more, but the machining of a rough forged tube into a finished barrel requires some very specialized tooling and a highly skilled machinist to do the work. At this point in time, I doubt that I would be able to weld and finish barrel over 12 inches.
If you decide to give barrel welding a try, I'll help you out all that I can. Just know that it is a huge undertaking.
