For those interested, this is a good source for the non-deep thinkin' internet version.
http://firearmshistory.blogspot.com/2014/09/http://firearmshistory.blogspot.com/2014/10/http://firearmshistory.blogspot.com/2014/11/ The author, an engineer, has declined to reveal his identity but posted briefly on Shotgun World back in 2011 as BobS
https://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=259371 He borrowed some of my Damascus Knowledge stuff when discussing Pattern Welded barrels, which is OK - nothing of mine is copyrighted
http://firearmshistory.blogspot.com/2010/06/barrel-making-pattern-welded-or_06.html Another essay is at the bottom here, courtesy of Doug Miller and used with his permission
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1V-qkkHrs7yJakMkakxkiMx8FzJjGXUg0EDm8-_AQPiA/edit “The Entire History of Iron and Steel”
https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/infrastructure/a20722505/history-of-steel/ "A Brief History of Iron and Steel Production" PDF by Joseph S. Spoerl
https://www.academia.edu/31060927/A_Brief_History_of_Iron_and_Steel_Production 
