New Damascus Steel

Purdey has reinvented Damascus, using a process I don't even pretend to understand. From Michael Yardley's site: "Powder steels have around twice the fracture strength of normal steels. The molten steel from the refining furnace runs into a nitrogen-filled vacuum chamber. In the chamber powerful gas beams atomize the alloy into a fine powder. The... powder is mixed in layers just like a marble cake in a special mould. The mould undergoes a Hot Isostatic Melting Process under vacuum pressure and the powder then welds together... The material is hot rolled to size in a series of passes on a rolling mill. During this process, it is subject to much higher stresses than normal, so production must be done in small volumes. The final stage before work on action and barrels commence is the twisting process. This not only gives a unique pattern to the steel but also increases its strength... After twisting the chopper lumps and action component parts are forged to shape in a traditional blacksmiths shop (in Sheffield). The forged components are x-rayed and certificated to ensure that the materials used in the Purdey Damascus steel gun are perfect. The process combines the use of the best 21st century steelmaking technology with ancient artisan skill. Needless to say, it is costly and time consuming."

Yeah, well, there is that. But if you have $100,000 or so free, you will get what may be one of the most beautiful guns ever.