A local shop has a very well preserved 12 Ga (British made) side X side with clearly Damascus barrels.

I checked for choke and found both barrels to be cylinder bore.....no choke at all.....

My question.....is this the norm for Damascus barrels?

Yes, and then, no. Damascus barrels could be choked but also many shots preferred no choke at all. Some of Britain's finest shots used guns with no choke.

Indeed, like many my own, main, game gun is choked a mere "improved cylinder" and "improved cylinder" in both barrels. A friend's Purdey was "cylinder" and "improved cylinder".

For the same reason. Assured kills on the 'easy" birds.

http://www.fieldsportsmagazine...ingham-s-grouse.html

This is the relevant passage:

quote:

The guns are all 12 bore, with cylinder 30 in. barrels, not choked.

Driven game shooting is, they say, like billiards (pool in the USA) it is the easy shots that build the score.

So a cylinder gave assured kills on the "easy" birds.

But...here's the caveat! It may also be a sign that the barrels have been cut down. That may be fashion or it may be damage.

In the 1920s the 28" barrel comes into fashion and so some had new barrels made that length...others just cut two inches off the end of their 30" barrels.

An English gun, damascus, should usually have 30" barrels.

Also a choked barrel may have on the fats of the barrel at the breech the word "CHOKE" stamped in as part of the proof marks.

There is no law that says that it should but that was the popular and almost standard length of the era.

Like 22" being the standard in the USA for deer rifles.

Last did you measure from the back end or by using a brass drop in plug from the front end?

If you measured from the back, found no choke that way and the barrel flats are marked "CHOKE" and they are not 30" it has, IMHO, been cut down.

What make is the gun?

Nothing was "standard practice"in the British gun trade in the 1800's.
Add to consideration that it may be jug choked.
Did you run a bore gauge down it?

Cylinder bore guns can pattern well beyond modern expectations if the barrel borer knew what he was doing and proper shells are used.

How are the bores?

I believe the make of the gun is Page. The store owner is quite ill and has not been in for some time. I'll get more info when he returns.

I checked the chokes with a dial caliper....not a bore gage so it may be larger behind the end of the barrels.

I'm told the previous owner used standard (smokeless) ammo in the gun for low pressure target loads. but I'd not use anything other than black powder loads in it.

The metal parts are superbly well mated and the action works like a Swiss watch.

I'll try to get photos when the store owner returns.

Hello VD. Long time since we've been on the forum together!

Page is a good maker. There is the French Faure le Page of Paris and also Page-Wood of Bristol, England.

Faure le Page is the first rank of French makers, Page-Wood is the second tier of Engish.

I visited the Faure le Page shop...it was next to the Opera. But the next time I went it was a shop selling shirts! Both Faure le Page and Gastinne Rennette (off the Champs d'Elysees) closed in the early 2000s.

In Bristol, of course, at the same time was Gibbs!

Here's a link that give photos of Bristol at the time and a Page Wood cartridge.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/...nandbred/5377028087/

Here's some guns they made.

http://www.gavingardiner.com/B...eRef=0024&LotRef=217

http://auctions.holtsauctionee...o=+++60854&saletype=

http://auctions.holtsauctionee...o=+++88635&saletype=