A hand forged Damascus tube in its 'as forged' condition - no machining has been carried out on this tube.
33.5" long - Forged bore .560" - Dia. at breech 1.320" - Minimum outside dia. ,930" - Dia. at muzzle .970".
Weight 2.5 kilo.
The following is an extract from a booklet published by E. Heuse-Lemoine - 'Manufacture of Damascus Gun Barrels'
"Our barrel industry only reached this enormous productions and gained such an extent on account of its excessive cheapness which results partly from the low rate of wages paid even to the most skilful workmen; and partly from the advantageous geographical situation of this part of our country which in a small area combines all indispensable elements to this industry. Indeed the river 'La Vesdre' and all its affluents are driving a great number of hydraulical wheels which economical motive power is used for boring, polishing, turning and grinding the barrels. The coal pits of the Highland of Herve are situated close at hand which furnish the necessary fuel to the Damascus works; and it is worthy to be noted that these mines furnish a special kind of coal, scarcely to be found anywhere else and is very suitable for our barrel-smiths who we dare say are very skillful to their art, having never done anything else in their life. It is not to be that these men must become first rate Masters in the art of forging, if we consider that the average number of heatings to soldering heat, a barrel receives at least 150 for the fine Damascus tube being 300 heatings for a double barrelled and that if one of these heatings has not well succeeded, that is to say that the barrel has not received its rigourous precise temperature, the tube may be spoiled, either by the alteration of the Damascus, or by the traces of even the smallest want of soldering; you can easily imagine the skill which these workmen possess."
