Real Twist, Percussion

clbcpa

Where can I find more info on the meaning of these terms for Shotguns?

rhmc24

Here is some basic info:

"Real Twist" refers to Damascus barrels which were made by wrapping-twisting wire or small rod around a mandrel and then welded by heating and beating to form a tube. Then bored out and finished into a barrel. Finished, the 'twist' could be seen and, in its day, became something of a mark of quality. There were fakers who finished poor quality barrels to look like Damascus ---- soooo the term 'real twist' was intended to mean something. A search of internet for 'damascus barrel' should give you more info that you will ever want.

"Percussion" is a form of firing or ignition that came after flint and before metallic cartridges that we use today. Typically a small 'cap' or capsule made of copper had a chemical compound in it that would explode upon impact or 'percussion'by fall of the hammer. The little cap was placed on a tube or nipple that supported it and directed its small explosion into the barrel of the gun that was loaded with powder and ball (or shot). The percussion cap was expendable, discarded. Percussion shotguns have a nipple on each barrel & revolvers have a nipple on each chamber of the cylinder.

Incidentally, back 'in the day' of the percussion gun the nipple as we call it today, was then called the 'tube'.

v35

The Gun by Greener will give you the manufacturing process for twist and Damascus barrels.
Basically, what we call twist is a strip of steel wrapped around a steel mandrel, heated and hammer forged to weld the seams.
The more expensive method was Damascus. Damascus barrels are made up of two ,three or more strips of alternating steel and wrought iron that are twisted then hammered flat into a strip, called a riband, then heated,wrapped around a mandrel and hammer forged to weld all the seams.
The decorative colors and design of Damascus barrels are due to how alternate strips of iron and steel take to browning or blueing.
Higher grades of Damascus barrels had more strips to the riband.
Greener found there was no advantage to greater number strips.
During the Civil War period, nipples were called cones in the military.