Ethan Allen Patent

Thomas Warner, of Chicopee, MA. was issued a patent for twist barrels in 1848 http://www.google.com/patents?id=PAxLAAAAEBAJ&dq=9999+Warner&jtp=1 In 1865, Ethan Allen recieved a patent, #48249, for twisting, winding, and welding damascus shotgun barrels. One the witnesses is Sullivan Forehand. http://www.google.com/patents?id=hTIAAAAAEBAJ&dq=48249&jtp=1#PPP1,M1 One year later, Ethan received another patent for soldering the tubes together through internal flaming. Sullivan Forehand was a witness again. Ethan Allen resided in Worcester, Mass. at the time of both patents. He produced over 600 high quality breech-loading shotguns of unique design in Springfield, Mass. between 1867 and his death in 1871. In 1869, another patent was issued to Selah Hiler of Harlem NY for improvement in the manufacture of gun barrels in which he states that "sucessive rolling operations...(is the usual)...manufacturing process." A possible description of domestic damascus barrel production in the early 1800s from 'Fire-Arms Manufacture 1880', U.S. Department of Interior, Census Office: "English workman Thomas Smith... 1822.. Harper's Ferry armory... His blows upon a twisted barrel (to quote Mr A.H. Waters) followed each other like the taps of a woodpecker, scarcely leaving a square without the marks of his copper hammer." Possible producers of domestic damascus barrels include A V Sill of Buffalo NY, Miller brothers of Rochester NY, Losey & Lull of Mott's Corners NY, and especially Levi Coon of Ithaca NY. For additional information see: http://doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=62993&page=1#Post62993