Mike, the odds are 999 to 1 that the barrels are Belgium. Douglas Tate in his book, "Birmingham Gunmakers", includes a report written for the Board of Trade in 1913. The report states, "Barrel welders are men employed in welding steel and iron into blanks or rough tubes. A large percentage of the rough tubes is imported from Belgium. There are in Birmingham only about six men who are skilled hand welders."

Last edited by Joe Wood; 12/04/07 07:21 PM.
John McCain is my war hero.