as steel ages it hardens...is there any formula to this natural hardening...and how much harder than when new would 100 year old barrels be???......
I don't know if I believe that, as it ages it hardens. I think if that was the case, especially with guns that are shot weekly with hundreds of rounds through them, that if work-hardened would have cracks and have issues.
Some steels do get work hardened, an example is your lawn mower blade. Used 2 times a week for a few months and try to file the edge, the file glances off. Break the skin and it files fairly easy.
If barrels were made with too much carbon, and shot by tournament shooters, they would have a problem as the friction built up would work harden it.
