The L.C. Smith Collectors Association
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    Now we know! Archived Message

    Posted by Drew Hause on May 8, 2014, 9:40 am

    The source of Hunter Arms' fluid steel tubes by the testimony of Thomas Hunter regarding the Payne-Aldrich and Dingley Tariff Bills, before the Senate Committee on Finance in 1912, and published in “Report on Duties on Metals and Manufactures of Metals by United States Congress.”

    Statement of Mr. Thomas Hunter, of Fulton, N.Y., Representing The Hunter Arms Co. and Others
    The Chairman: Will you state the companies you represent, Mr. Hunter?
    Mr. Hunter: The Hunter Arms Co., the Baker Gun & Forging Co., Parker Bros. Gun Co., Hopkins & Allen Arms Co., A. H. Fox Gun Co., Lefever Arms Co., H. & D. Folsom Arms Co., Ithaca Gun Co., N. R. Davis & Sons, and Harrington & Richardson Arms Co.
    Senator McCumber: Does the American manufacturer use the unfinished importation?
    Mr. Hunter: He uses what are designated in the present bill as “gun barrels rough-bored.” That is what we import.
    Senator McCumber: To what extent do you use those?
    Mr. Hunter: Entirely.
    Senator McCumber: You do not manufacture any of them?
    Mr. Hunter: No, sir. We have no facilities for making shotgun barrels.
    Senator McCumber: Does any other company make them?
    Mr. Hunter: There are a few that make them for themselves only. None are made to be sold. We never have been able to buy any in this country.

    And now the composition of c. 1900 Armor Steel

    Composition analysis by OES of the Smith Armor Steel – Carbon content 0.47 weight percent comparable to AISI 1045 Plain Carbon Steel, but with slightly higher sulfur (.075) and phosphorus (.112) content similar to AISI 1211 rephosphorized and resulfurized steel.
    Tensile strength 101,000 psi.
    Published tensile strength for 1045 is 80,000 – 90,000 psi.

    What we don't yet know is if there was any difference in London, Crown, Nitro, Royal or Special Steel. If anyone has a piece of any of the above, send it to me and we'll find out!



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