Album: Stephen Helsley Collection A brief survey of English Damascus
The most common English patterns are Plain Twist/Skelp, Stub Twist, 'English Two Stripe' (Damas Crolle' or Damas Anglais), 2 or 3 Rod 'Oxford', English 'Best' in 3 or 4 Rod ('Oxford' and 'Turkish'), and British Laminated Steel. We can look back to the barrels used on 'Best Guns' to determine what was perceived as of the highest quality in any period, and Purdey would of course be a good example to use. Stub Twist was used 1820s-40s, then both Stub Twist and an early Laminated Steel into the 1860s (as nail stubs were becoming increasingly difficult to obtain.) Crolle Damascus was available in the 1820s, but Two Iron large scroll 'English Two Stripe' or 'Damas Anglais' was not in general use until the mid-1800s, and with Three Iron 'Oxford' and a later Laminated Steel were used c. 1850-1890s. Four Iron 'Turkish' similar to Parker D4 appeared after 1870, although most 'Best Guns' used Three Iron. The first Purdey with Whitworth steel was 1880. Lower quality English and Belgian guns used Plain Twist/Skelp into the early 1900s.
"The Science of Gunnery, as Applied to the Use and Construction of Fire-Arms" William Greener, 1841 - The most endless variety possible may be attained; a figure with the carbonized material, showing only the ends or edges of various lamina, or portions of the face of that lamina, may with equal facility be obtained. It would be a never-ending task to endeavour to describe a tithe of the varieties that might be made, and have been. The French and Belgians are very expert at this sort of ornamental work. I have clearly shown, that whatever other qualities Damascus possesses, strength is not one of its properties. "The Gun and Its Development" William Wellington Greener 8th edition 1907 - With the English maker the figure of the barrel is the last thing to be considered when determining the type most fit for the particular purpose, whereas with the foreign manufacturer it is usually the first, and often the only consideration. The English maker takes a barrel that will do best; the foreign maker the barrel that will look best.
