Handled one of these today and thought it looked like a pretty cool shotgun. Thought it was a Winchester 97 at first glance. Did some research and lots of people they arent safe to shoot and Marlin advised to only shoot light loads in them. Would be a cool wall hanger. Any input? Regards, Jericho.

I've had one for many years. My Uncle, God rest his soul, gave it to me. I was just a kid. Dad and I took it to the then-world-famous, Simmons Gun Specialties in Olathe, Kansas and they said it had a Damascus Barrel and not to shoot it with anything but light loads. I've shot it before but haven't for many, many years. I wouldn't shoot it, even with light loads. Too many good shotguns available cheap to take the chance. You'd hear about lots of guys blowing up Damascus barreled shotguns, when I was a kid.

I’ve never seen one that wasn’t broken. Probably had a dozen pass through the shop over the years I worked there. Seems that they weren’t very robust. Neat wall hanger from a bygone era.

Has anyone actually seen or had a Damascus barrel blow up? Heard about it all my life but never saw or knew anyone that had one come apart.

Man named Sherman Bell did experiments with old American double shotguns for Double Gun Journal. The experts on blowing up damascus barrels reside on the Double Gun BBS. Their damascus expert was/is Dr. Drew House. All I remember reading is that at the time they were made three strip Birmingham laminated barrels were second in strength to Sir Joseph Whitworth Fluid Compressed Steel ie much stronger than fine "Chain Damascus" coming out of Belgium at the time. I don't know about old American shotguns (no proof house) they scare me to death.