Since at least the 1880s, big guns, naval and the like, were Crucible Nickel steel and I assume, but could be wrong, that small arms were also. Fremy also confirmed the 1.18% carbon circa 1864 or 1874. Krupp was very, very secretive with the composition of his steel early on. By the early 1900s, carbon was down to approximately the 1/2 percent range.

By the way, I should have better identified Fremy, Edmond Fremy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmond_Fr%C3%A9my .

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Last edited by ellenbr; 06/06/09 11:18 PM.