750 
FOREST AND STREAM 
[Nov. io, 1906. 
Modern Methods of Gunmaking. 
The Manufacture of Iron for Gun Barrels. 
From W. W. Greener’s “The Gun and Its Development. 
Gun barrels may be made of plain iron, as described 
in the history of gun-making. As shotgun barrels, they 
are worthless with modern explosives. They may be 
made from solid steel, as are rifle barrels; or they may be 
made of figured iron—that is, of a mixture of iron and 
steel. ... 
The method of producing this special material is as 
follows: I’ig iron obtained from a mixture of the best 
ores is placed in a furnace, melted, and cleansed from 
all dross by puddling—the dross, being much lighter than 
the iron, rises to the surface and is skimmed off. When 
sufficiently cleansed, the draw-plates of the furnace are 
lowered, the heat reduced thereby, and the liquid iron 
while cooling gathered and worked into.blooms of about 
1 hundredweight each. The puddler takes the bloom with 
a pair of tongs, runs it to the tilt hammer and hands it 
over to the shingler, who, by dexterously turning the 
metal under the hammer, forms it into a square block 
and passes it to the roller; it is then passed through the 
various rolls until of the required size, and drawn out 
into a bar of about ten feet in length. The hammering 
under the heavy tilt condenses the metal, and causes the 
dross and scale to fly off. The rolling increases its 
ductility and tenacity by elongating,the fibre. 
If scrap steel is used, it is treated in the same way. 
But if new metal is employed, the finest qualities of 
rolled bars are chosen; the steels suitable are open hearth 
and ingot steels, produced by modern methods, if low 
in carbon. On account of its purity and uniformity, best 
Swedish steel is most usually preferred. Steel is not 
improved by puddling. 
Iron is improved—that is to say, purified—by the 
process of puddling; so it is usual to take bars of pud¬ 
dled iron, cut them into short lengths and pile them 
into faggots. These faggot's are heated in the draft fur¬ 
nace, welded under the tilt hammer, and the block of 
metal reheated and hammered for the manufacture of the 
best barrels, to condense the fibre of the metal and in¬ 
crease the specific gravity. After being hammered, the 
blocks are rolled out into bars; the bars are again cut 
into equal lengths, laid and fastened into faggots, heated 
in the furnace, and welded together and rolled into thin, 
narrow strips. In the above processes the end of the 
bloom, or extremities of the rods, are cut off and thrown 
aside, being less dense, and consequently useless for 
gun iron. 
The loss in the puddling is about 15 per cent., in the 
shingling and rolling about 14 per cent.; in reheating the 
metal it also losses considerably, making a loss of about 
40 per cent, in those three processes alone; and there are 
successions of similar losses in each further stage of the 
manufacture of iron. The proportionate amounts of the 
different descriptions of metals in a barrel determine its 
quality. The old-fashioned laminated steel was composed 
of nearly three parts of steel; best English Damascus 
and modern laminated steel contains over 60 per cent, 
of steel; and the best silver-steel Damas.cus contains 
nearly 75 per cent, of the best worked steel. The amount 
of steel is determined upon before making the metal into 
faggots for the last time; if for scelp barrels, the strips 
of iron are twice the thickness of the steel, the faggots 
being formed of alternate layers or iron and steel. In 
single iron Damascus barrels the proportion of iron 
used is not much less than the steel, but the metal for 
these common barrels does not pass through quite so 
many processes as that for the best barrels, and although 
far superior in quality to ordinary iron, its tenacity and 
specific gravity is not so great as that of the very best 
gun iron. In best Damascus barrels the iron and steel 
are mixed together systematically. 
In the piling of the iron and steel, it is possible to so 
arrange the metals that many different figures—that is to 
say, direction of the grain of the metal—result. In the 
best silver-steel Damascus, used by the author, the exact- 
proportions of iron and steel used are such as have been 
found by experiment to give the greatest strength; the 
figure is fine and uniform. By using more iron than 
steel, and keeping to the same arrangement of the 
metals, a very inferior barrel would result. The tenacity, 
durability and beautiful figure of the barrels depend 
almost entirely on the proportions and arrangement of 
the steel and iron, the desiderata being the placing of 
the iron in the best position to give the regular and fine 
figure of the finished barrel. 
In piling the iron for the ordinary Damascus twist 
strips of iron and steel are laid upon each other alter¬ 
nately. In another figure the iron, in lieu of being in 
strips, is in rods, which are arranged so that in cross 
section they resemble a checker board. 
In producing chain twist, diamond twist, and irregular 
figured and fancy figured barrels the iron rods are dif¬ 
ferently piled. They may be of hexagonal section, or 
rhomboidal, or some square and others parallelopipe- 
donical. Combinations of strips and squares are com¬ 
mon on the Continent, where also, instead of plain rods 
or bars, the iron and steel used for piling is sometimes 
of v, L, T, and other sections, or combinations of various 
figures. There seems to be no limit to the varieties of 
figure obtainable by the arrangement of the iron and 
steel in the faggot, and afterward suitably working the 
metal. 
The next process is to heat and weld the faggot of piled 
iron and steel, and roll them into rods of the sizes re¬ 
quired by the welder. 
The welder may for a common barrel have the metal 
in the shape of a strip about % inch wide and of rhom¬ 
boidal section. For a figured barrel it is necessary to 
have the rods of square section, and to heat them and 
twist them upon themselves—a process which turns the 
grain of the alternate strips of iron and steel running 
longitudinally from end to end of the rod in a spiral 
direction. 
In twisting the rods care is taken to keep the edges of 
the iron and steel strips to the outside, for it is the 
twisting of the different metals that gives the various 
figures in the finished barrel. The steel, being hard, 
resists the acids and retains a white or light brown hue, 
while the iron or softer metal is so acted upon by the 
acid as to be changed into a dark brown or black color. 
The manner in which the strips are laid and welded to¬ 
gether will be found described in the chapter on “Bar¬ 
rel Welding.’’ 
Eighteen pounds of prepared gun iron are required to 
weld an ordinary pair of 12-gauge barrels, which, when 
finished, weigh, with the ribs, lumps and loops but little 
over 3V£ pounds. After bearing in mind this fact, ana 
considering the great expense and loss of expensive steel 
and iron attending the manufacture of the metal, and 
the cost of welding of best barrels, it will no longer 
be a matter of wonderment that best guns are expensive 
to produce. 
Gun Barrel Welding. 
The methods practiced in manufacturing Damascus 
barrels differ but in unimportant details from each other. 
The welding of barrels by hand is still carried on in the 
author's factory, and the various processes of barrel 
making as employed there will be first described and 
illustrated. 
The square rods of prepared iron are first twisted to 
give the Damascus figure. The rods are about four feet 
long and are placed in the forge fire until about eighteen 
inches of the rod is brought to a red heat, when one 
end is thrust into a square hole in a block made fast to 
a frame, and the other end fixed into a movable head 
at the other end of the frame; a rotary motion is then 
given to the movable head by means of a winch handle 
and cog wheels; the rod, being square, cannot turn 
round with the head, so is twisted in itself. The rod is 
carefully watched while twisting, and should one part 
commence to twist more rapidly than another, a man is 
ready with a pair of tongs to hold that part of the rod, 
so that it is prevented from twisting. This process is re¬ 
peated until the whole rod is perfectly twisted, and a 
regular figure in the barrel insured. 
To be Continued. 
Winchester Team. 
Wilson, N. C.—The Winchester team gave one of its 
marvelous exhibitions at this place and the large audi¬ 
ence present reflected much credit upon Billy Simms, 
Will Walls, Ed. Killette and Jimmie D. Barns, of the 
local club for their untiring efforts at advertising. The 
above-mentioned quartette are hard to beat when it 
comes to running a shoot, and their scores indicate their 
ability at the trap. Jimmie D. led with 91, Simms 90, 
Walls 88, and Killette 84. Bud Harris, of Rocky Mount, 
came down and broke 90. With him were Daughtridge 
and Thurman, who also shot well. Every one thoroughly 
enjoyed the exhibition of the Winchester experts, and 
also that of the powder representatives, who have been 
shooting in remarkable form. Ward broke 99, Hatcher 
98. and German 92. 
The scores of the team were: Crosby 99, Taylor 96, 
Boa 95, Hawkins 95, Mrs. Topperwein 91. 
The total was 476 out of 500, and for the second time 
this week they scored 124 out of 125. Mrs. Topperwein 
got 24, unfortunately losing her eleventh target after 
being balked several times. Crosby, Hawkins, Taylor 
and Boa each broke their 25 straight. This feat was 
generously applauded, for it was the finest exhibition 
ever given by a squad in this section. “Top” and Mrs. 
Topperwein’s fancy exhibition was highly praised by all 
and met' with well merited applause. All the small boys 
looked at these artists with wondrous and envious ex¬ 
pression. One mischievous little fellow while watching 
Mrs. Topperwein hitting little grains of coal about the 
size of a grain of coffee, remarked, “Well, just look at 
that, she shot at a red bug’s eye; I’ll be doggone if she 
didn’t hit right in the center.” Numerous remarks of 
this kind are heard on all sides and at every place; it is 
amusing indeed to listen to them when the experts are 
shooting. 
Wilmington, N. C.—A high wind at this place made 
the targets very erratic, but even at that good scores were 
made. A large and appreciative audience applauded the 
shooters upon many occasions. The following scores 
were made: Crosby 96, Hawkins 95, Taylor 92, Boa 90, 
Mrs. Topperwein 88; total 461. 
The powder men made the following scores: German 
93. Ward 92, Hatcher 91, and Col. Anthony 86. 
Charlotte, N. C.—It was very cool here, and the shoot¬ 
ers had to be moving all the time in order lo keep 
warm. Old T. Bill did the grand act, and broke his 
entire hundred straight, certainly a beautiful piece of 
shooting, which was most generously applauded. Bill is 
the coolest and steadiest that ever faced the trap, and 
the man don’t live who can beat him in an individual 
race of 2000 targets. Crayton, ofk the local club, came 
next with the fine score of 98. The team scores were: 
Crosby 100, Hawkins 97, Taylor 96, Boa 96, Mrs. Top¬ 
perwein 89; total 478. 
For the powder men, Ward made 97, German 96, 
Hatcher 89. Stohr, of the local club, broke 90; Anthony 
87, Bates 83, and Todd 78. 
Chester, S. C.—A slight rain, about starting time for 
the shoot, kept the crowd down to several hundred per¬ 
sons; but they certainly demonstrated their pleasure at 
the exhibition. Mr. and Mrs. Topperwein drew forth 
many expressions of wonder. Hawkins broke the hun¬ 
dred straight in the team race. The scores were: * 
Hawkins 100, Taylor 99, Crosby 99, Mrs. Topperwein 96, 
Boa 93; total 487. 
This is the finest team score ever made in the Caro- 
linas by five shooters, and of course Chester was alive 
with interest, owing to the great showing of the team; 
121 out of 125 was the lowest score made in the four 
strings. T. Bill now has the longest run (149) made on 
the trip. Taylor had 120 previously. 
The powder men are having a great race among them¬ 
selves every day, and their work is very interesting. 
Their scores here were: Ward 96, German 94, Hatcher 
93. They are a fine trio of good shots and good fel¬ 
lows, and the team is glad to have them along. 
Columbia, S. C.—The team struck a blackbird trap 
(that would go on a strike every now and then) and a 
high wind, and consequently the scores suffered. Many 
targets were hit, but refused to break, as they did not 
rotate. Our friend, S. B. MacMaster, had charge of all 
arrangements, and entertained the team in royal style, 
most of them going to and from the grounds and around 
the town in his autos. John Taylor, one of the best 
fellows in the world, made high score for the day, closely 
followed by good old John Boa. Scores: Taylor 96, 
Boa 95, Crosby 94, Hawkins 94, Mrs. Topperwein 89; 
total 468. 
The team broke 124 out of the last 125, an accomplish¬ 
ment that met with merited applause. 
J. Mowell Hawkins. 
North Side Gun Club. 
Paterson, N. J., Nov. 3. —The team shoot scheduled 
for to-day was postponed. The date of it will be in the 
near future. The annual prize shoot will be held on 
Thanksgiving Day. Refreshments will be served fy.e to 
contestants. Targets, one cent. In the 4 and 5 bird 
events, merchandise prizes figured. F. H. Lewis was 
the victor in the former and J. Spaeth in the latter. 
Mr. Lewis, who hails from the Oradell Gun Club, was 
the high average shooter of the afternoon, with Joe 
Spaeth a good second. Scores: 
Events: 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
Targets: 
15 
10 
25 
10 
15 
25 
25 
T Spaeth . 
. 11 
9 
17 
8 
14 
20 
12 
W Banta . 
. 6 
6 
16 
9 
11 
20 
15 
Dr Reagan . 
. 7 
4 
13 
W Jones . 
. 4 
2 
9 
F H Lewis. 
. 11 
8 
20 
10 
13 
17 
20 
H Beckler . 
4 
4 
N Boogertman . 
7 
7 
7 
7 
7 
H Fessenden . 
. 8 
8 
15 
7 
6 
i3 
ii 
W Hempstead . 
. 8 
2 
A Peckart . 
. 4 
3 
O Carlough . 
7 
4 
8 
A Veenstra . 
10 
2 
7 
T Halliwell . 
6 
4 
j E Bender . 
7 
8 
i3 
C Masker . 
5 
Bergen Beach Gun Club. 
Brooklyn, N. Y., Nov. 3. —At the weekly shoot of the 
Bergen Beach Gun Club, to-day, scores were made as 
follows: 
Events: 1 2 3 4 5 6 
Targets: 25 25 25 25 25 25 
Kelly . 22 23 23 21 20 19 
Creamer . 15 16 10 16 19 17 
Shevlin . 6 .. 12 11 15 15 
Bergen . 16 16 17 23 15 17 
Dreyer . 16 13 12 15 .. 11 
Dondena . 5 5 16 12 .. 
Edling . 6 6 5 .. .. 
Fleury ...:. 16 17 18 
Ryder . 17 10 
Gillig . 5 .. 8 
Martin . 15 .. 
Griffith . 18 20 
PUBLISHERS’ DEPARTMENT. 
We are just in receipt of the latest catalogue issued 
by Messrs J. H. Lau & Co., 75 Chambers street. New 
York, the first issued since the death of Mr. J. H. Lau 
and the succession of his son, Mr. Robins A. Lau to 
the business. This catalogue enumerates a very com¬ 
plete list of firearms, ammunition and fencing goods. 
Reports indicate that Messrs. Lau & Co. are building 
up an enviable trade with the sporting goods dealers of 
the United States. They are agents for two well-known 
smokeless shotgun powders. They will be pleased to 
mail a copy of their catalogue to any sporting goods 
dealer asking for it. 
George Washington had just announced that he 
couldn't tell a lie. 
“Well,” responded his father, thoughtfully, “as long 
as you were going to marry a widow, it wouldn’t do you 
any good if you could.”—N. Y. Times. 
City Girl—What makes the lake such a beautiful green 
today? 
Boatman—Three grass widows do be in bathing, mum.— 
Yonkers Statesman. 
Gun-barrel Iron, Twisted, and Laid into a Riband. 
