Skelp

Skelp

A Skelp (also spelled "Scelp") is a band of iron commonly forged from melted scrap iron of inferior quality. Cheap gun barrels could be made from this in the "Damascus" method - wrapping the skelps around a mandrel to make spirals which were then hammered and forged into a tube. The mandrel was then removed, the interior reamed, and the exterior filed until a finished tube was complete. The tube was then polished and breeched.

This method of construction was used because it was very difficult to cast a solid barrel and then drill it out without the bit coming out the side.

Damascus barrels were generally designed for black powder charges. The breech end of the tube was much thicker than the muzzle end, and this held the initial impulse pressure from the black powder. By the time the bullet reached the muzzle, the pressure had dropped quite a bit, so muzzle reinforcement wasn't needed. This gave a better weight distribution through the length of the weapon.

Smokeless powders burn more slowly than black powder, but maintain high pressures throughout the barrel. Since the barrel is not reinforced at the muzzle, it may not be able to contain the pressure. Also, most Damascus barrels were made before modern smokeless powders, so the age of the barrel can be a safety hazard.

Sources

*"Guns On The Early Frontiers", Carl P. Russell, 1957, Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 57-6042.

External links

* [http://www.hallowellco.com/damascus_twist_barrels.htm Damacus Twist Barrels information]


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Skelp — Skelp, v. t. 1. To strike; to slap. [Scot.] C. Reade. [1913 Webster] 2. To form into skelp, as a plate or bar of iron by rolling; also, to bend round (a skelp) in tube making. [Webster 1913 Suppl.] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Skelp — Skelp, n. [Cf. Prov. E. skelp to kick severely, to move rapidly; Gael. sgealp, n., a slap with the palm of the hand, v., to strike with the palm of the hand.] 1. A blow; a smart stroke. [Prov. Eng.] Brockett. [1913 Webster] 2. A squall; also, a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Skelp — Skelp, n. A wrought iron plate from which a gun barrel or pipe is made by bending and welding the edges together, and drawing the thick tube thus formed. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • skelp — skelp·er; skelp; …   English syllables

  • skelp- — *skelp germ.?, Verb: nhd. spalten; ne. split (Verb); Hinweis: s. *skelpu ; Etymologie: s. ing. *skelep , *skelp , Verb, schneiden, schälen, kratzen, Pokorny 926; …   Germanisches Wörterbuch

  • skelp — [skelp] vt. [ME shelpen, to beat, flog] [Brit. Dial.] to slap or spank vi. to hurry along; hustle n. [Brit. Dial.] a slap; blow …   English World dictionary

  • Skelp — Skelp. См. Полосовое железо для прокатки сварных труб. (Источник: «Металлы и сплавы. Справочник.» Под редакцией Ю.П. Солнцева; НПО Профессионал , НПО Мир и семья ; Санкт Петербург, 2003 г.) …   Словарь металлургических терминов

  • skelp — 1. verb To beat or slap. 2. noun A narrow strip of rolled or forged metal, ready to be bent and welded to form a pipe. he then heats one half of the skelp at a time in an air furnace, or other fire, and having so heated it, he passes the skelp… …   Wiktionary

  • skelp — skelp1 /skelp/, Scot. and North Eng. n. 1. a slap, smack, or blow, esp. one given with the open hand. 2. the sound of such a slap or smack. v.t. 3. to slap, smack, or strike (someone), esp. on the buttocks; spank. 4. to drive (animals) by… …   Universalium

  • skelp — I Scottish Vernacular Dictionary A gid slap or wallop, usually delivered with an open hand. Example: Yi gallus wee besom, eh ll skelp yir erse! To hit To consume with vigour. II Yorkshire Dialect Beat Blow III Glesga Glossary To Slap, Hit IV… …   English dialects glossary

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