316 WILD FOWL SHOOTING. 
end. ‘The ribbon is now wrapped around a mandrel, 
and its convolutions are firmly welded together at a 
white heat by hammering the ribbon on the mandrel 
while placed in a semi-cylindrical groove. Another 
portion is added to that just formed by jumping and 
hammering till the length of the barrel is completed. 
“Laminated steel barrels are formed of ribbons com- 
posed of six parts of steel to four of iron, and the only 
difference between laminated steel and Damascus 
barrels is that the ribbons composing the former are 
made of rods less twisted; but the ribbons are subjected 
to more hammering when on the mandrel in order to get 
greater condensation and firmer welding of the fibres 
of the two metals.” 
The twist barrel is often called ‘“stub-twist,” from 
the stubs of horse-shoe nails out of which these barrels 
were first made. These stubs and other scraps are 
welded together, drawn into bars, then heated, and 
while one end is in a notch or clamp, the other end of 
the rod is attached to the axis of a crank and twisted. 
At present these rods are made of selected iron, the 
supply and quality of stub having fallen off. These 
twisted rods are now beaten into flat bars, and then 
wrapped around a mandrel, and their edges welded to- 
gether. This forms the twist barrels. There is no per- 
ceptible difference between Damascus and laminated 
barrels, in practical use, although the Damascus are far 
handsomer in appearance. The laminated seem harder 
and require less care and attention in keeping clean. 
Having decided what make of gun to buy, the mate- 
rial of the barrels and the bore, the purchaser is ready 
to select his gun. The length of the barrels, thatis, 
the standard, is 30 and 32 inches. The extra length 
