Kwestion: Weren’t early “Damascus Steel” shotgun barrels made of twisted steel, and subject to bursting if too powerful shells were used? As a kid, I remember a couple of old hand-me-down shotguns we had that could only fire shells with low brass.
“...Weren’t early “Damascus Steel” shotgun barrels made of twisted steel, and subject to bursting if too powerful shells were used? ...”
“Damascus” pattern barrels were made of alternating strips of iron and steel. The number of times they were hammered flat, then folded and twisted, then worked again, and the technique in doing this, lent decorative variations to the wavy patterns produced in the metal, which was then wrapped around a mandrel and welded. Solutions of nitric acid were applied, which stained the metals differentially, allowing the patterns to be seen.
Any barrel will burst if the charge is big enough.