Does anyone know whats involved with machining damascus. Would like to have someone make a damascus follower,barrel band, and straddle floorplate for high grade mauser.

"I didnt realize how wonderful life could be until I got married,but by then it was too late!"

that's got to be on of the neatest things i've read in a long time

you might not know, but there's 3 "normal" patterns for damascus,including the fold.. birdeyes, diamond, folded/wave

you could have the smith buy a billet of your favorite and turn the stuff from that... the barrel band would have to be a fold and weld.

after everything was done, it would have to acid dipped, to make it LOOK right, otherwise it just looks like mottled steel.


would be a hell of a neat looking effect,.,, wonder what it would look like blued?

the billets aren't cheap, but you can get them at texas knife makers supply, for one place

jeffe

Jeffeosso,
Went to the knife show Reno this year upstairs from the ACGG show.Met a guy there with some premium damascus blades. A quillion dagger ($4500).I discussed the idea with him. I dont know much about damascus But I do have great ideas.I cannot remember his name but do have it on file.He was more than happy to make the billets for me according to what pattern desired. He did mention something about acid dip? Dont know what it would look like(rust) blued.But I do know a subtle damascus pattern on such a rig (98) would be a real class act.
We also talked about doing 1/4 ribs, sight bands,full mauser bottom metals! But I believe in keeping things subtle. A follower will only reveal itself on closer inspection of the rifle,and give the person apleasant surprise.maybe a barrel band,bow release, or floor plate.
I sort of remember a fold with a slight wave running the length of the blade.It looked right to me for what I have in mind.

Woodjack, For further ideas, check this link. http://www.zbrojovkabrno.com/arms/sluzby.htm

If all fails, Go for Zbrojovkabrno.com. Once you get past the history, the exposition you want is under the heading sluzby, and further damasecek. The barrel has an interesting pattern.

Gentlemen

Checkmate
http://www.damasteel.biz/

Cheers
/JOHAN

Beautiful

I think damascus has to be acid washed to bring out the pattern during the bluing process, the pattern resulting in differences in carbon content caused by the forging process. Not exactly certain of this but believe that the wash is integrated with Rust Bluing or Browning processes to do it properly. Nitre blue processes will hide the pattern and are sometimes used to obscure the fact of damascus steel in a firearm. I do know for a fact that damascus steel in the white is can be scarcely differentiated from fluid steel by the untrained eye.
Sounds like one heck of an idea, best of luck to you. I'd GUESS that it machines pretty much like regular steel but that's only a guess. Try contacting David Yale at SMT, Inc.(970/562-4225) in Yellow Jacket, Co. for input on damascus. If he doesn't have an answer it is likely he can direct you to the right place. He can also tell you what you need to know about finish work. FWIW, and just my opinion, damascus is best displayed by Browning, not Bluing.

It would make beautiful scope bases too.

quote:

Originally posted by systeme98:
The barrel has an interesting pattern.