As a general rule, NO, NO, NO!!!!
This is a method used to make shotgun barrels in the 1800's and early 1900's. Wires or thin steel strips were wrapped around a mandrel and hammer-welded. Belgian laminated would be one of the least expensive types of laminated barrels.
I own a Greenough dimascase forged barrel shotgun. I'm not familar with the stampted lam.
Because some of the superfine oak particles from the barrels that the cognac is being aged in seep into the alcohol during the aging process.
they were made out of steel in 1885 They were all made with steel barrels. The earliest, by Lefever & Barber Co in 1874-75 were damascus or laminated steel. Fluid steel barrels would have been introduced about 1900.
Try gun shows, libraries.
the gun has two hammers and on the barrels is stated laminated steel
Most likely a Belgian gun. Take off the barrels and look at the barrel flats (breech end on the underside of the barrels). If you see the letters 'ELG' inside an oval then it's Belgian.
Your gun was made between 1880 and 1914, probably by Henri Pieper. If the name is actually Rickard (with a K instead of an H), it was probably retailed by J A Rickard Co of Schenectady, NY. Chrome and laminated barrels don't belong on the same gun. Except for a few custom-made shotguns, laminated barrels were not produced after the 1920s and chrome was not used until the 1940s. The plating was added after manufacture. I must have been short of sleep when I posted that. The finish is probably a nickel plating which would be appropriate for a firearm of this age.
Whatever a yuppie will pay for a mantle decoration. Probably $150-$200. Laminated barrels are not considered safe for use with modern ammunition.
It would be most foolish to fire this gun. Laminated barrels are also called Damascan barrels and have been known to corrode and weaken where you can't see the damage. This was aggravated by the black powder shells in use at the time the gun was new. Modern smokeless powder has much higher pressures. The barrels can blow up. You are best to hang this gun on the wall and never use it again.
Nothing in particular. Just decoration.