PROGRESS OF THE SMALL ARMS MANUFACTURE. 437 
at that period, to which I will hereafter refer. Before referring to these 
figures, it may be interesting to trace the system at present pursued in 
carrying on this manufacture in Birmingham at the present time. 
The manufacture of the various parts of the gun, or barrel, lock, &c, 
are distinct trades. These several parts are collected by the manufac- 
turer, known as the gunmaker, and by him are set up. 
The chief branches are as follows : — Stock making, barrel making, 
lock making, furniture making, oddwork making : and for military 
guns there are in addition, bayonet making, sight making, rammer 
making. 
The stocks are of two kinds — beechwood and walnut. They are 
brought to Birmingham, cut from the plank into the form of the gun. 
Beech stocks are grown in this country, chiefly in Gloucestershire and 
Herefordshire. Walnut stocks are, with few exceptions, imported from 
Italy and Germany. One Birmingham contractor, to meet the demand 
occasioned by the Crimean war, established saw mills in Turin, and since 
that period has converted into gun stocks nearly 100,000 walnut trees. 
He has left but few sound walnut trees standing in the district in 
which he carried on his operations. The greater part of the supply was 
obtained in Piedmont, and smaller quantities from Ferrara, Bologna, 
and Modena. An average size tree yields about thirty gun stocks ; 
those cut from the heart of the tree are most valued, and are used for 
first-class military arms and the best sporting guns. About one stock 
in five or six can be obtained " all heart ;" the remainder are " sap and 
heart" and sap. 
Barrel making is quite a distinct trade. For the manufacture of 
military barrels a somewhat large plant of rolling, boring, and grinding 
machinery is required. No barrels are made in England, except in 
Birmingham and its immediate neighbourhood. 
The invention of making gun barrels by means of grooved rolls is due 
to a Birmingham manufacturer of the name of Osborne. It was on the 
occasion of the strike of the barrel welders that he was led to make the 
experiment. He was not allowed to introduce his system without op- 
position, for no sooner were his rolls set to work, than twelve hundred 
barrel welders, each armed with his forge hammer, proceeded to the 
private residence of Mr. Osborne, in the Stratford road, threatening its 
destruction. The military was called out before the disturbance could 
be quelled, and for many days afterwards a guard was placed over the 
mill in which the work was carried on. 
Gun locks are made in Birmingham, and, on a still larger scale, in 
the neighbouring towns of Darlaston and Wednesbury. 
Furniture, under which head are included the heel plate, trigger 
guard, &c, is made either of brass for military guns, or cast iron for com- 
mon sporting guns, or forged iron for the better qualities. 
The odd work, consisting of screws, pins, swivels, &c, is pro- 
