Edge welding didn't go out the window...you can't make damascus or twist tubes without edge welding...and whats all the talk about rotary hammers and heliarc? I guess I wasn't specific enough when I said don't mix in "hammer forging" referring to Ithaca's rotary forge that's 50 years later than the period of interest here. Hydraulic rams? trip hammers never had hydraulic rams? You've lost me...
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Edge welding can be easily achieved with heat, pressure, and borax...impact is not necessary, it's just another way of delivering pressure...