Iver Johnson Single Ring Release 12 Guage

Question
Mr. Gage,
First thank you so much for being part of this site and your time answering such an amount of questions. I recently inherited an Iver Johnson Single Barrel 12 guage with the ring release. I have narrowed down the majority of the information on the gun with the exception of the type of steel used for the barrel. It is the all number serial number which places it early 1900 or slightly before from what I have found. Just wondering if it was the damascus and/or twist steel or the more modern forged. Thanks!!

Answer
Hello Brock.
  If your shotgun has the semi-hammerless bobbed hammer, it was manufactured from 1897-1900. If it has the full hammer, it was after 1900-1904. It was manufactured with a plain or twist steel barrel choked. The barrels were manufactured for the pressures of blackpowder shells, since Iver Johnson had not completed their smokeless powder line of firearms until 1908. All steel is forged in some way. Damascus/twist steel is forged around a mandrel to the length necessary for the barrel. This process can be clearly determined by the swirling pattern along the length of the barrel. If you are asking if the process, at that time, was used to allow the use of smokeless powder, the answer is no.
  I hope this helps answer your questions, and thank you for asking for me. Charles Gage