Yes it was- Chrome Vandy (AISI 6150) medium carbon steels were first developed by the French- Acier around 1904- electric melt furnace, not BOF-- Henry Ford was on a tour there, and brought the metallurgy back to the USA-- barrel ordnance steels in the early AISi era were most likely a 1530 range- nickel, resulphurized medium carbon- soft steel parts, as called out in the 1981 brownell's brophy book (love that allieration, ey lads) Plans & Specs. for the L.C. Smith shotguns were AISI 1018--FYI

"The field is the touchstone of the man"..