Actually a well made damascus shotguns are quite sound.Problem aw there were many cheap ones and some that were actually silver soldered instead of damascus welded. A good Damascus weld is as good as any other steel.

My dad told me his gun club took a old Baker shot gun and tied it to a post and proceeded to blow it up with smokeless loads. Never did blow, even with high base magnum loads. They then wen to some very heavy home loads which the gun also survived. An old junk gun of any sort is dangerous. A well made and maintained gun firing the loads it was intended for is as safe as any modern gun IMHO

Guys have had 1911 slides milled from Damascus billets and fire them.
damascus 1911 - Google Search

Everyone should have a good bolt 22, a high power bolt (30-06). a 12 gauge pump shot gun and A S&W 357. Its what my son got for graduation from HS.