craigd
Following the patenting of the Bessemer process in the U.K. in 1856 which resulted in low cost conversion of pig iron into steel.Bessemer steel rapidly became the prime source for steel as used in gun barrels, locomotive rail, gun body actions etc.
The Bessemer process was licenced into the U.S.A.by the early 1860,s.
The steel used in both American and British gun body actions during this era would have been forged from billets of steel made by the Bessemer process. Prior to improvements to the Bessemer process the refining of the steel was not always perfect.This is the reason we some times see the forging lines in the action of both British and American guns made in the 1860-1900 time frame.
Last edited by Roy Hebbes; 05/28/13 11:28 AM.
