Is the use of wootz for gun barrels enough to be considered "true combat value"?
If yes, i've already mentioned it but Philip gave a good hint in another thread :
"I suspect that the barrel on your gun is much older, with the breech altered to accept a percussion bolster and nipple. The configuration of your barrel could well indicate Persian manufacture. Without inscriptions it can be difficult to date these, but good quality ones remained in service for a long, long time.
Many of these old Persian (and Indian) barrels are of twist damascus steel. HAVE YOU TAKEN YOUR GUN APART? Often, the portion of the barrel covered by wood is less corroded and a damascus pattern might be visible."
Post n.10 here :
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=3636