- "Mandrinage" refers to a test done by inserting a cone in a hole and looking for permanent expansion without cracking.
You can google "mandrinage canon" for references on that subject. The technique was used for artillery tube testing and many other parts such as nuts and railcar hooks.
In this context, it would mean that the steel used would have been tested accordingly.
The other meanings of "mandrin" are "chuck" (machine tools) and tubes used to wrap paper or fabric on. A mandrin is also used for damascus barrel manufacturing IIRC.
As for the orange, Larry, it is "mandarine".
Seems we're overlooking the simple here, linguistically speaking. "Mandrine" follows "acier"--which is a masculine noun. If we're suggesting that "mandrine" is an adjective, that would be wrong. It would have to be "mandrin" to agree with "acier". Thus, my guess is that "mandrine", in this case, is a proper name--like "Acier Jacob Holtzer" on a Verney-Carron. Can't say I've ever seen "Acier Mandrine" before, but the French do use a wide variety of descriptive adjectives and proper nouns to identify barrel steel.
Thanks for the correction on the orange thing, WC. That's why I put a smiley after it.
Last edited by L. Brown; 03/05/15 07:02 AM.
