Some miscellaneous thoughts on forging -
In 2012, I spent some time with Gottfried Prechtl at his home/business in Birkenau, Germany. For the side by side guys - he makes Mauser bolt-actions. During dinner, he explained that
his machining time to produce an action, bolt and bottom metal is 89 hours. That process reduces ("making chips" as he described it) a 14.5 kilo piece of metal 1350 grams. A century plus ago, using forgings, Prechtl said Mauser could do the same thing in 50 hours.
I believe that Alexander Henry used forgings for at least some his falling block single-shot rifles (Patent No.1071 of 1865). When I was collecting single-shots, I had the occasion to handle two of those forgings.
One post suggested that William Powell & Son may have forged their actions. Powell's Patent No.1163 of 1864 (the lift-up lever) has been the subject of my attention for some years. Early Powell cartridge guns generally used Smith, Brazier or "Lefaucheux" actions. Powell hammer and A&D lifter actions are scaled - 12-b smaller than 10-b, etc. From c.1874, Powell used many Westley Richards related patents such as the dolls-head extension, Deeley and Anson forend bolts, Deeley ejectors, Anson safeties as well as A&D patent actions. The only surviving Powell records are the serial number and day books. Thus, we'll never know for sure but Westley Richards (or their source) may have been Powell's source.
