Re: Old style L.C. Smith barrels? Archived Message
Posted by revdocdrew on February 18, 2008, 12:54 pm, in reply to "Re: Old style L.C. Smith barrels?"
Here's a summary Lloyd, but you can read the original report on the link on p.26
The Birmingham Proof House Test of 1891
As published in The Field, and reproduced in Double Gun Classics http://www.doublegunclassics.com/alt/DGCJanFeb06.pdf
Barrels were tested with increasing loads, starting with the standard Birmingham proof load of 182 grains powder and 1 2/3 oz shot (80-100 % over standard ‘Field’ loads.) Loads were increased each subsequent shot to the 12th test load of 358 grain powder with 3 ¼ oz shot! Any bulge, which usually occurred 13”-24” from the breech, was considered failure.
The strongest barrels were:
1. English machine forged 3 rod Laminated steel
2. English fluid compressed steel, Whitworth process (fluid steel)
3. English machine forged 2 rod Best Damascus
4. English steel Siemens - Martin process (fluid steel)*
5. English hand forged 4 rod Best Damascus
6. English machine forged 2 rod variegated Damascus*
7. English machine forged 3 rod Best Damascus
8. English carburised steel, Darby’s method
9. English machine forged 2 rod Laminated steel
10. English “Superior Barrel Steel”*
11. English machine forged chequered 3 rod Damascus*
12. Foreign steel, Siemens – Martin process*
13. English steel, hematite process, from pig and scrap
18. Foreign “Pointille’” Twist
24 & 25. Foreign 3 rod and 4 rod “Crolle’”
26. English machine forged 4 rod “Boston” Damascus
32. English machine forged 2 rod “Boston” Damascus
* - Judged by the Guardians of the Birmingham Proof House to be tied for first place in the second phase destructive testing (bursting or a bulge of .01”)
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