RUST SPOTS IN GUN BARRELS. 63 



he has kindly written at my request, and I hope it may be 

 of benefit to brother sportsmen. FRANK N. BEEBE. 



COLUMBUS, O. 



Gun barrels made of clean, refined, homogeneous iron 

 will not get the "measles." My theory, from observation, 

 is that the finer the grade of barrels, as our manufacturers 

 grade them, the more liable they are to "scab," as I call it. 

 Take the fine Damascus barrels (so-called), that is, the bar- 

 rels, with the fine, beautiful, curly figure. In the manufac- 

 ture of such barrel the maker must use great care in welding 

 that is, nurse it carefully with the hammer so as to pre- 

 serve the curl regular. As a result, the iron is not so close 

 grained as it would be if spanked down right hard with the 

 hammer, without reference to the shape of the figures, v as in 

 the common barrels. Of course all understand that the dif- 

 ferent figures and colors in gun barrels are made by a mix- 

 ture of steel and iron, or different kinds of iron. In case of 

 steel and iron being used, the iron being softer will rust 

 easier, leaving the steel brighter, clearly showing the figure 

 of the barrels. If not nursed much in welding, the figures 

 will not be so perfect; but in case of steel twist, or any irreg- 

 ular twist made of small scrap iron and steel, such as needles, 

 fish-hooks, nails and screws, the fagots are put under a 

 heavy hammer, and so thoroughly incorporated as to almost 

 make the iron of one nature and texture. Gun barrels made 

 in this way will not spot under ordinary care. I discover 

 from the various correspondents that the finer the gun and 

 the more care, the more they spot. I believe that con- 

 clusion is almost an axiom ; but some of your correspondents, 

 on their dignity, appeal to "common sense" to prove such is 

 not the case. If a farmer would daub his plows with a mix- 

 ture of common blasting powder and water he could leave 



