I've read a couple articles on how the sourced tubes arrived in the U.S. of A. An 1907 article on Ithaca gives that the "rough bored barrels" arrived 50 pair per box being no more than 0.03" from the finished state. Cockerill steel, laminated twist, damascus, Krupp & Whitworth were noted as being sourced. The Krupp tubes are noted as having a soldier with a gun, so I wonder if the author meant the Sauer Wildmann trademark? Also the Whitworth tubes had a serial number and a certificate. I assume this was standard and the other American makers received similar boxes.
Diagram of Belgian forging method and a "rough bored barrel" which was a tariff exception or taxed very cheaply. The article notes it took 5 or 6 days to bring out the contrast.
Kind Regards,
Raimey
rse
