[Paladin2]

My son has found that pulling Great-G’dad’s Win 1894 30-30 (mfg. in 1896) out of the attic works just fine.

[jonascord]

Good rifles don't have Damascus barrels. Shotguns did. The method of spiral hammer welding would have challanged any attempt at cutting the rifling in a bore. When you look as a shotgun compare the thickness of the wall to a rifle barrel.

Besides, Winchesters were top of the line, here in the US. You could buy a Stevens game gun out of a catalog in 1890 for $4. Winchesters were more expensive, and you got what you paid for.