doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Double Rifles, Paradox Guns & Gauge Rifles @ doublegunshop.com ? on when steel barrels started.

I'm looking at a double rifle in .450 3 1/4". It can be dated by the serial number with the maker's records. Records say 1876 but it has steel barrels. Seems too early for steel to me. Shouldn't they be damascus?

I have a steel barreled British double rifle from that time frame.

Depends on where it was made. France was well into fluid steel production by then. A look at the proof marks on the tubes might help.

Best,
Ted

My Goldmann, German double rifle from about the same time frame, in 11.15 X 60R has steel barrels. I have seen German combination guns with Damascus shotgun barrel and a steel rifle barrel. I can't remember if I've seen British Cape guns with the same combination. One would expect them to exist.

Although referring to scattergun tubes, which were probably a little later than cast rifled tubes:

>>The earliest shotgun that I have seen with steel barrels was a Thomas Horsley hammer gun #1968, circa 1872. This gun was unusual because the barrels were engraved," steel"! I have seen one other early gun by this maker that also had steel barrels.
By 1888 steel barrels were in common use. A debate over the strength of steel vs; damascus, pompted the Birmingham Proof House to carry out comparison tests of steel vs, damascus. The best performing barrels in this test were those made from English machined forged laminated steel in three rods.These barrels out performed Whitworth steel.Details of these extensive test can be found in the book Experts on Guns & Shooting by Teasedale-Buckell.<<

2007 thread - Roy Hebbes

>>I was browsing older threads and came across the above. In case anyone is interested I thought I'd add a note.
I have the remains of Horsley gun #1890 which, other than the barrels, is in horrible condition having been re-actioned in an extremely crude manner. In its heyday it was a classic Horsley bar in wood hammer gun with side cam mechanical extractors. Despite its demise, the barrels are in good condition and are similarly engraved "Steel" on the under side of the rib. I believe this is an 1871 gun based on David Baker's list of SNs.
Just some more data for those interested.

Perhaps one day I'll bring it back from the dead but it would definitely not be an economically viable proposition.

Jeremy<<


https://www.doublegunshop.com/forum...mp;Words=1872&Search=true#Post469147

Serbus,

Raimey
rse

>>The cast steelworks in Witten were not related to Krupp. They were competitors during the latter part of the 19th century. In 1854 Louis C. Berger, son of the founder, perfected the making of small arms barrel steel. During the 1850s to the 1880s Witten was the leader in small arms barrel steel. Among their worldwide customers were the American companies Winchester and Colt. For Colt they made special size, nearly 2” diameter, steel stock. Colt needed them to make their “all American” Peacemaker cylinders. At that time, Krupp specialized in railway equipment and artillery. Krupp breechloading, rifled cast steel field guns earned them fame and reputation in the Franco – Prussian war of 1870 – 71 and made the name popular, but the infantry on both sides fought with rifle barrels of Witten steel. Krupp went to the small arms barrel steel market after 1890 only. Krupp had the famous “name” on the civilian market, but Witten supplied the military arsenals and factories in Germany and abroad with rifle barrels up to WW1.<<

Axel E.

Again war brings technology to the forefront.....

Serbus,

Raimey
rse