Sorry guys - I corrected the link
https://docs.google.com/a/damascusknowle...zJ9Q/edit?pli=1 Relevant information. One can imagine that removing all the cast iron from the scrap simply by visual inspection would be an inexact process.
Appleton's Dictionary of Machines, Mechanics, Engine-work, and Engineering 1873
“It would be difficult to define what scrap iron is, or what it is not, being composed of everything in iron that has previously been manufactured, as well as of the cuttings from the various manufactories...”
The Gunsmith’s Manual; a complete Handbook for the American Gunsmith, Being a Practical Guide to All Branches of the Trade J.P Stelle & William B. Harrison 1883
“Best Materials for Gun Barrels”
The barrels of the finest and best guns, either Damascus, or other steel, or iron, are formed as made in Europe and England, of scraps of iron suited to the purpose, and selected with great skill and the greatest possible care. These scraps, which are usually bought up about the country, are placed in what is called a "shaking tub"-a vessel which is violently shaken and rocked about by machinery or otherwise(depending on the particular locality)for the purpose of scouring and brightening the scraps. This done, they are carefully picked over by adepts, who cull out the unsuitable pieces. So rigid is the culling that it often happens that out of a ton of scoured scraps not more than one hundred pounds weight of them are chosen as suitable for going into the best barrels.
Among the scraps usually thought to be best are old chains that have been used for many years, the wear and rust of time having left only the best elements of the iron. The Damascus steel, which has attained to so high a reputation, got it by being manufactured out of old coach springs. Of course it is not all made of coach springs now, but it was in years ago; agents then traveled all over the country hunting and buying them up, paying a much higher price for an old broken spring than a new one would cost it's owner.
Journal of The Federation of Insurance Institutes of Great Britain and Ireland, 1904, “Gun and Small-Arms Factories” by A.E. Patrick
“The iron for the manufacture of sporting gun barrels was formerly made from finest scrap iron, such as old horse-shoes, nail stubs and the like. In preparing the metal…a number of scraps were collected of various proportions, the clippings of saws, steel pens, and scraps of best iron, which were placed for some time in a shaking barrel for cleansing, and then hand picked, in order that any pieces which had the appearance of cast iron might be removed.”
The hay rake on my grandparent's place in Missouri is probably still there
