doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com whitworth steel date?

Can anyone enlighten me as to when Whitworth steel began being used in gun barrels? Looking at a very early gun with fluid steel and trying to figure out whether or not it has been re-barreled at some point. Thanks!
Steve

Sir Joseph Whitworth's adaptation of Bessemer's principle of hydraulic pressure casting was patented in 1874. The first Purdey Pair Nos. 10614 & 10615 were delivered January 1, 1880 with the "New Whitworth Fluid Pressed Steel."
Lefever Arms Co. was the first U.S. maker to supply Whitworth steel for their Optimus in 1887.
Parker used Whitworth for the first AAH Pigeon Gun in 1894 SN 79964 delivered to Capt. Du Bray.
Hunter Arms supplied Whitworth steel on the Smith Monogram, A2, and A3 in 1895.

Dr. Hause, I didn't think you knew anything about that new fangled steel?

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Gotta know the enemy
The Art of War, Sun Tzu

The Field Oct. 20, 1888 �A Shoot On The Moor� by Thomas de Grey Walsingham
"On August 30, when I killed 1,070 grouse to my own gun in the day, I shot with four breechloaders. No 1, a gun made in 1866 by Purdey, subsequently converted from pin-fire to central principle, to which new barrels were made last year. Nos. 2 and 3, a pair of central fire breechloaders, made also by Purdey, about 1870, for which I have likewise had new barrels. No. 4, a new gun made by Purdey this year to match the two mentioned above, but with Whitworth steel instead of Damascus barrels. The guns are all 12 bore, with cylinder 30 in. barrels, not choked."
�Whitworth steel barrels are not desirable for a heavy day's shooting. The explosion in them makes quite a different sound from that given off by Damascus barrels: there is more ring about it, and I can imagine that this might prove a serious annoyance to anyone who minds the noise of shooting. Moreover, the Whitworth barrels became hot much more rapidly than the Damascus, and this is a serious drawback...I am replacing them with Damascus as in all my other guns.�

Thank you!The gum I'm researching was made in 1882, early but not too early.

Steve: In addition to the trademark "sheaves of wheat" stamped on the bottom of each tube, Whitworth barrels were usually stamped with the company's serial number for each tube on the barrel flat. I do not know if those records exist.

Ok Drew, we now know Whitworth steel was first used about 1880 in gunmaking. So now I need to know when did gunmakers discontinue the use of Whitworth steel in their gunmaking?? Thanks.

Thanks drew! More good info.

Matsak

Were most of the early ones sourced from Kilby's shop?

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

So if Walsingham shot 1,070 grouse in a single day how many shots did he miss?

At some point does it really matter what material your barrels are made of after that many shots?

Heck after that many shots my ears would be ringing, my check aching, shoulder nearly broke and a massive headache, all in addition to simple being worn out.