doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Iron, Steel & Alloy Staining

I�ve found that it is wise to take most old writings with a grain of salt. Not just the Brit�s. It seems that many early authors were not so much interested in being correct, as they were in making sure that no one challenged their assertions. The typical methodology was to make a statement of �fact�, declare yourself to be the supreme expert on the subject and then dare anyone else to say you were wrong. Sort of like being the biggest literary bully on the block.

I typically look for other knowledgeable contemporary authors to corroborate a statement made by one. Then this mutually agreed upon �fact�, must be weighed against what we know to be the scientific and metallurgical knowledge of the time. Just because several old authors agree on a subject, does not make it so. Case in point; the concept that cold hammering of steel will make it more dense.