The forging on guns of this period would almost certainly have been drop forged not blacksmith forged . Companies like Victoria Forgings in the "Black Country " did work for many Birmingham makers and indeed produced " standard" forgings or stampings of many parts . Webley had there barrel blanks forged out of billets as they did their actions and forend irons . Occasionally a forging fault would show up on machining in the form of black lines.