Unfortunatley, I think the Liege museum is still closed. They have been "refurbishing" it for several years.
Krupp "Nirosta" (patent 1912) is another stainless that may have originated at Poldi. At that time in the company's history, Krupp had enough money to buy anything he wanted like patents and whole armorplate companies simply for the technology.
Early on, A. Krupp's pride and joy was his huge steam hammer "Fritz". By 1864 he had 7000 men using it to make "fluss stahl" barrels amoung other things; by 1871, he had 10,000 men. When "Fritz" failed in the mid 1880's, Alfred Krupp installed a 5000-ton hydrulic press for his now 20,000-man workforce. It was no different in Liege, Gardone, Birmingham, Suhl or New Haven; the industrial revolution had hit gunmaking by the 1860s(It all started with Watt's engine in 1782 and was going "full-steam" in England by 1800). The British need us too, and came to America for mass-production rifle-making machinery from Robins and Lawrence of Windsor, Vermont and Ames Mfg. Co., Chicopee Falls, Mass. With it, they to equiped their arsenal at Enfield. There, by 1858, they were turning out 2,000 rifles a week. (Tate, 1997). Greener, himself, mentions using "17 different machines to shape stocks".
I could'nt help but think by the mid 1860's Damascus barrels were at least partially machine-made--ultimately, a dollar is a dollar; machines were cheaper and more efficient, then as now.
It still takes the touch of human hands to make a good gun, however, now as then!
Last edited by C. Kofoed; 06/05/07 11:30 PM.
