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I acquired a 12 gauge L.C. Smith, 0e grade made in 1909, with damascus steel barrels. Asking all the experts on here about the safety of shooting this fine old shotgun. RST states that their ammo is safe with damascus steel. There is some slight pitting but not a lot. The shotgun is very tight. Their were some old 2 5/8" paper shells and I fired the gun and everything functioned fine. I don"t plan on shooting it a lot but would love to take it on a dove hunt or two. Any suggestions or words of caution would be appreciated.

Joined: 05 Nov 2005 Posts: 219 Location: Sussex Wisconsin

pay up your life insurance first..... Rolling Eyes

PHE,

I always advise my clients who have acquired Classic American double guns to have them fully inspected/fired by a good gun smith to make sure the gun is still functioning properly and that the barrel thickness is good enough to shoot.

After your L.C. Smith gun is inspected and everything checks out, I recommend you use RST 1150 PSI and below to help safe guard the gun for longevity usage. Remember also L.C. Smith used different levels of Damascus Barrels on their guns, the high grade Damascus Barrels are quite nice, and should be safe once you have the gun tested. I would still not due a lot of Dove shooting with the old gun, even with high grade Damascus barrels, the Damascus barrels are still over 100 years old. You might consider using the gun to Pheasant hunt behind a good gun dog, in that manner you will not be doing a lot of repetitive shooting with her.

all the best,

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man

Joined: 16 Jul 2015 Posts: 2126 Location: Hudson,Wy

My advice is two fold. I recommend avoiding conjecture, guessing, etc. by first going to Dr. Drew Hause's "Damascus Knowledge" site to read up on real research and historical data. Spend a couple of days (really) reading the information there to gain a true idea of what you are dealing with, what is fact, what is fiction, how the barrels proof tested, and even manufacturer's (including L.C. Smith) load recommendations of the period.

Next, have a qualified gunsmith who actually knows vintage doubles and damascus barrels inspect the gun. This will include lock up, bore condition, and wall thickness as well as inspection for any structural or safety "red flags".

After all of this, you will have a legitimate idea of what you should or should not do with the gun.

Member Joined: 09 Jan 2013 Posts: 2170 Location: Florida

I had Nick (was a gun specialist at one time ) check mine out - just fine ! Actually has fairly heavy barrels . Shoot trap every once in a while . Use 700X loads off the 3/4oz wad bag and no problems . Those loads aught to be the ticket for doves ! ( I don't think it would be out of order to say that in the 16ga , 14grns 700X and the DR16 wad with 3/4oz would be quite do-able also )

Joined: 08 Feb 2009 Posts: 1310 Location: Western WA

Damascus barreled doubles work great until they burst and unwind and partially slit your throat like one did to my hunting partner’s brother while quail hunting.

B.

Gentlemen,

There are good reasons that our family traded or sold all our Damascus barreled L.C. Smith double guns. The main reason is the new Armor Steel barrels were higher quality metals.

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Sith Man

We have only one Damascus Barreled L.C. Smith double gun left in our gun collection and it is fully sleeved for 28 gauge.

One of a kind 1898 L.C. Smith #2, Damascus barreled 20 gauge gun, fully sleeved for 28 gauge by Briley.

*Last edited by revdocdrew on Mon Apr 26, 2021 1:03 pm; edited 2 times in total*

No one can tell anyone if a gun is "safe" on the internet.
No vintage gun, Damascus or fluid steel, should be used, with any load, until the barrels have been evaluated by a specialist with the interest, equipment (bore scope and wall thickness gauge), and expertise to properly do so.
"Should be safe with light loads" is not an informed opinion. And if the examiner cannot provide wall thickness numbers from breech to muzzle, you need another opinion.

Plenty of reading here
https://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=366087

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LFnSG34k3mBhLEjEgU267wAlIa215MNVQZhIiY62Hx4/edit

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZIo0y746UsSRZIgRuuxwAbZjSBHitO_EanvwLYc-kGA/edit

And I would gladly pay $100 and the shipping cost for the remains of a pattern welded barrel that "unwound"; not burst, not split, not fractured. They are not slinky toys.

Barrel Failure Analysis
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZnptAPvQIlWG5n5UU2FmKcFpYtVmOSc4b7K7G9IBs4g/edit

*Last edited by skeettx on Mon Apr 26, 2021 5:01 pm; edited 1 time in total*

revdocdrew You the MAN!
Thanks for posting over here Smile

Mike

Gentlemen,

I have never heard or seen of any Damascus barrels that unwound, not saying it could not happen, however I have never seen this kind thing happen myself.

Rev Doc does have a point, these barrels are not toys.

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man

...

Then again you could buy some Jim Shockey Gold - a non-corrosive black powder substitute made by American Pioneer Powder, and be able to totally relax from the concern of pressure damage, and have some vintage fun.

Of course there is always black powder.

Either way I hope you like smoke. Occasionally our club would hold ‘black lung’ skeet shoots.

Clean up is a breeze - just run a patch soaked in windex down the bore. Or if you’re really concerned - flush the barrels with scalding hot soapy water, followed by scalding hot clear water (don’t worry the barrels will heat-dry in seconds), then oil the barrels (inside and out), and day is done.

You, along with everyone around you, will remember the occasion, and it will give you a whole new appreciation of sport shooting.

*Last edited by skeettx on Mon Apr 26, 2021 5:14 pm; edited 1 time in total*

My 1893 Quality 3 has great barrels
But instead of counting my fingers each time I shoot,
I have fitted a set of Briley full length tubes in 20 gauge.

My Quality 2 10 gauge is shot as is with single F Black

Same with a early Baker that now sports 28 gauge tubes

Mike

Thank You to everyone that responded. Got exactly the info I was looking for.

Thank You to everyone that responded. Got exactly the info I was looking for.