I've worked with steel all my adult life. I started out making home-made shotguns out of iron pipe when I was 15 and became a machinist in my twenties so I think I know something about steel. Or do I? I read here and on "the other forum" posters who say that early 20th. century steel is weaker that modern stuff. In my experience pre WW1 steel can be just as good as the best modern stuff but my experience doesn't include pressure test comparisons so I know that I don't really know. I have a BSA from 1919, a period when one might expect poor quality from British steel, that has superb metal. Hard, rust resistant, beautiful finish that has kept all it's sharp corners thru nearly 90 years. So if someone would please enlighten me I'd appreciate it. Are steel barrels of that period really not up to snuff? Or is it more a matter of honed to death?
nial
