My grandfather had a blacksmith shop back in the 1920's, 30's, and 40's. It was on the family farm. I've been told he could make just about anything and he had a reputation of being the best blacksmith around. He died when I was a baby so I don't remember him but I remember his shop and the old forge. I still have his anvil and a few hammers. I wish I had the time to pick up the craft. Thank you for posting.
Always interesting to see how they did this stuff without all the infrastructure and modern machines, the answer always seems to be a hell of a lot of patience and hard work.
@@MythSpeed drills have existed for thousands of years, everything from primitive bow drills and pump drills, to treadle lathes and presses, and so on. It was just a slower process, and drill bits needed replacing more often. Rifles were extremely time consuming to create, where as smooth bore muskets were quicker to mass produce.
@@MythSpeed Metalworkers have been hardening steel for a very long time and hardened steel drill bits, while not as good as something like tungsten carbide, can certainly be used to bore into softer metals. I'm guessing that barrel is annealed before being reamed and rifled, then hardened once all shaping is complete. Starting with a rough tube, as shown in the video, means that far less metal has to be removed and bits don't wear out so quickly. I honestly don't know if this is how it was done, but it seems plausible.
This is why the gunsmith was always a distinct skill set from the blacksmith. Just the same as your farrier and your toolsmith. Hot dang do I love watching a good craftsman work...
Nothing makes you appreciate the convenience (and energy consumption) of the modern age like watching a blacksmith try to make something that we take for granted every day. Great video. Crazy amount of work!
rixille Thats the beauty of blacksmithing. Those guys probably had a ton of jigs and molds that made their lives easier. after making a couple hundred im sure they figured out a way to do them quickly and precisely en masse
+jason m I bet they could get them done in just a couple of heats, tbh. Probably bend the entire thing around a mandrel in just one, weld it in another or two. This is more the frontier blacksmith being able to recycle goods.
David Hammer I didn't specify, but I meant more in an arms manufactory of the time with a few people all working on it at once. That should clarify a bit
I've been told (by a Colonial Williamsburg smith) that, in a weapons production shop, each smith would make one part of a gun... So they would be extremely fast and good at making that single part. It would have been interesting to see.
WOW! As a machinist, I find this fascinating! Making a barrel from round stock would be hard enough, but this way just seems impossible. I'm amazed at how things were done "back when". I wish you could show the whole process, especially the rifling. Great video!
***** my mistake... I rewatched the video a second and third time and could not find him saying it. I think it might have been another of his videos that pointed to this one in which he said that. However I could just as easily be mistaken. I may have been tired when watching this originally.
you have an amazing amount of patients to make this I'm also impressed at how much endurance you must have to swing that hammer for who really knows how long well done sir
I'm in awe, watching something that I simply cannot comprehend. If I hadn't seen it, I wouldn't believe it was even possible to create a gun barrel from a "strip" of metal. Great video and extremely educational. Many thanks.
Nicely done, very informative seeing how much flux you had to use to get a good weld. Also good work on the edit, Enough to see whats going on but not having to watch every blow. It always amazes me what can be achieved with simple tools and patience.
Thank you for this content. It's people like you that make knowledge pass between generations. Again thank you for this knowledge. I hope you come out with more knowledge
I always wondered how hundreds of years ago blacksmiths could make a barrel without modern machines. Thank you for the video, now it makes sense how it was done.
good to know. the older i get, the more interesting I find this sort of thing. hand crafting of any sort is more and more of a rarity... thanks for sharing your craft.
Interest in blacksmithing is actually growing. There is a national organization called ABANA with over 4000 members (and growing). The TV programs that have started recently (although they a bit dramatic and unrealistic), have added to the interest. I don't have a number, but there are numerous blacksmiths that make their living doing this type of work.
I saw a fella by the name of Guster do this years ago. I find people who can do this darn fascinating. Guster was an artist. He had some finished rifles I wish like heck I had picked one up lol. Really enjoyed this video.
This really helped me understand and appreciate the work behind how a gun barrel is made. Thanks for keeping it simple and not getting too technical for us laypeople.
Nonja Buisniss I bought mine from Josh Greenwood (Petersburg, VA, USA). His website is anvils4sale.com/more_anvils.php He imports them from Germany. There are others that import and sell these also (check eBay). There is also a dealer in the Midwest that sells new Refflinghaus anvils.
Great job! Very Professional work! Thank you for taking the time to make this video and showing us how a barrel is made! Have a Blessed day and GOD bless!
I guess I never gave this period of gunsmithing any thought because the idea of having a "seam" in my gun barrel scares the bejesus out of me! I guess I always though they were cast back then - like a canon. Learn something new every day - thanks!
Hi David, good video. what were the qualities of the wrought iron that you liked so much? What made it exceptionally good? Is there a test you can do to test that it is wrought?
Wrought iron is generally spoken of (graded) as poor, medium or highly refined. Although a piece of wrought iron, after being processed into a bar, may have a smooth outer surface, it actually has an internal fibrous structure, much like a tree branch. If you have ever seen a piece of wrought iron that has severely rusted, or has been successfully etched with acid, you will see evidence of these fibers. The finer (thinner) the fibers, the more highly refined the wrought iron is. The more highly refined it is, the better it is. The more highly refined wrought iron is, the easier it is to forge. Extremely rough fibers (poorly refined iron) may appear as wide as an eight of an inch. Within extremely high refined wrought iron, it may be difficult to see the fibrous nature of the iron at all. Modern steel does not have that fibrous appearance, it has a crystalline appearance. A way to determine if a piece of metal is wrought iron is to literally "break" it.... as if it were a twig, and look for the fibers. Then a visual inspection of the thickness of the fibers is used to "grade" the wrought iron. In reality, there would be many diameters of fibers within each grade (poor, medium and highly refined), so in reality, there are as many grades as there would be diameters of the fibers. Within a piece of unforged bar stock, those fibers would run lengthways within the bar (again, like the grain within a tree branch). When I tested the wagon wheel tire I used to forge the gun barrel, I could hardly see the fibers. I suppose the next question might be "How do I break a piece of iron.... wouldn't it just bend? This is how I do it.... If I am testing a bar (say a half inch square solid), I put a piece of the bar into a vice, with about an inch or so sticking up or out the side. Then I cut it a little more than halfway through the bar with a hacksaw (with the cut about 1/4 to 3/8ths of an inch from the vise jaws). The cut needs to be across the fibers. You can generally assume the fibers run lengthways on the bar (this will invariably be true if the bar has not been forged). Then take a heavy hammer and "whack" the bar, hitting it on the side that you just cut. If you did this with a piece of wood, it would break or "split" at the cut (and you would see wood fibers). Essentially, if you use enough force, and it is wrought iron, it will also split and you can see the fibers. I try to hit the bar just hard enough to split it, but not break it. As previously stated, the smaller the fibers, the more highly refined the wrought iron is. Some fibers may actually "tear" and you can see the ends of them (as well as the sides of those that don't tear). On highly refined wrought iron, those fibers may only be 1/100 of an inch wide. If you have trouble breaking the metal, cut it a little further. If it's steel (rather than wrought iron), it will be harder to break. If it's steel, it will snap in two at the cut and will not split like a tree branch. It will have a crystalline appearance on each end instead of the fibers. If you have a piece of thick barstock, just cut a short (1/4 inch) piece off the end and put that in a vise and break it like you were trying to bend a coin. It will snap in two and you should see the fibers (assuming it is wrought iron). If you don't want to destroy a piece of what you have, clean the scale off it (sanding or ?), then etch it with acid. You won't see the grain as pronounced, but you should see grain. The more poorly refined it is, the easier it is to see the grain. If it is extremely highly refined, you may have trouble seeing the grain and will have to do the break test. If you polish the metal, a light acid like lemon juice may show the grain (it takes a while). A stronger acid would be hydrochloric acid (muratic acid). If you use stronger acids, be sure you take proper safety precautions and proper disposal techniques (read the MSDS).
I have to say I'm very glad i was able to view your video . The way you explained each process was excellent. thank you for taking the time to put this out here. Till the next one, I'll be watching out for it
What are the chances that a guy whose last name is "Hammer" would be a blacksmith? I recently bought an anvil from a woman whose last name was "Smith." It's the little things in life that I find entertaining.
There are numerous traditional arts schools that teach blacksmithing. There are even a couple (or more) universities that have metal arts programs. There is a national blacksmith's organization called ABANA (goggle it) that is dedicated to perpetuating the skills...
@@djhammerd I was also giong to comment on the anvil, they are naval anvils .. but more interesting is "did you know" the Bick and heel are only about 300 years old before this they were hardy set pieces but an old flat "I" anvil at the shop was about 1600's didn't have a Hardy hole.....
@@andrewyork3869 Seeing it demonstrated by so many people on here and moreso seeing just how accessible getting started is gave me the final impetus to try my hand at it as it's been something I've always wanted to do. I started with a propane torch, claw hammer and anvil made out of a sledgehammer head and have a proper anvil and ribbon burner setup now. The process has been so satisfying.
Watching you master crafts persons, especially blacksmiths and carpenters, makes me feel that sitting at a server terminal all day is not what it's all about. Time for a new career me thinks. Amazing video!
TheMonohub Making something you can hold in your hands is a great thing. My long time career was in IT also, but I also had a woodworking hobby. I also learned how to weld so I could make and fix metal things. I didn't really start forging till I retired and could focus on it. It would be a hard way to make a living, but it's a great hobby (as is wood working).
FINALLY I found what I was looking for. I searched for ‘gunsmith’ and all I got were these pansies doing some simple modifications to existing guns with machinery. Had to search for ‘gun forged by hand’ to find this...
you seem like the guy to ask: is there a commonly used progression of blacksmithing projects that one usually goes through? for example, making a knife seems like it would be way more simple than this. I would think it could be a first project, or one of the first projects. Do you ever try to make your own steel/iron? I'm assuming you chose that wagon wheel tire purposefully for it's composition. I'm fascinated by all of this. Thanks for any advice you have.
If you have not done any forging, I would recommend joining a local guild and taking beginner and intermediate classes. Some guilds have forging stations available at their meetings and do demonstrations. They may also teach formal classes. If your guild doesn't teach (even if they do), there are MANY formal schools that teach blacksmithing. Some are dedicated to smithing, others are Traditional Arts schools with blacksmithing as one of the categories of classes. The best school is probably the J.C. Campbell Traditional Arts School in North Carolina. First projects usually include making hooks, leaves, twists and simple tools (such as punches and chisels). There is no formal progression that I know of. It just depends upon your interests after you have learned the basic skills. I would not consider a knife a beginner's project, but it depends on what you are satisfied with. Making a very nice knife may require you to have equipment a beginner generally does not have, such as a belt grinder and polisher. If you look online, using search engines and finding videos on UA-cam, you should get an idea how smiths make knives. It's not difficult, but it does take skill and lots of practice. Simple forge welding is probably considered an intermediate skill. Forge welding a gun barrel might be considered advanced. I used wagon wheel tire iron to make the barrel because they are a source of wrought iron in the needed cross section. Wrought iron is not commercially manufactured anymore, so the only iron that is available is that from old pieces that can be re-used. Best of luck to you.
Flutter Shy I don't have any information about guilds or schools in Canada. I recommend you use Google or Bing and specify "Ontario Blacksmith" as the search argument. You will find an Ontario blacksmith organization. Their website should have contact information for you. They should be able to tell you where you can get training.
Pinkamena RainbowDerpyShy I completed a beginner course from Wareham Forge with Darryl Markewitz in Ontario(google with easily get you there and the classes are somewhere on his website). He was great and relatively well priced. I'm very glad I went to him. There are several others, one of which is Thak Ironworks (again google will find him easy). He's also in Ontario and while I've never met him or been to his shop, I've heard nothing but great things. He's a little pricier, but you'll see his work, he's probably worth it. Lastly, there are more classes, but to help get you started with resources for Ontario, check out Ontarioblacksmiths.ca. Ontario Artists Blacksmith Association. These should help get you in the right direction. Goodluck
UA-cam is awesome, I was just thinking 2 days ago about how people managed to drill long holes in barrels before everything was made by robots, and here the answer. Thanks a lot!
A lot of work on each centimeter. Hammer welting is something special. It is amazing to see something an old times smith has made. You can see the experience in it.
That was an exceptionally good piece of iron. That tire band would make an exceptional long barrel. Having a barrel like that with nice cut riflings would be excellent when broken in. I was able to fire a rifle made with a truly exceptional iron barrel once. It was a dream to load and clean and was so accurate. I offered an exceptional amount of money for it but the owner didn’t want to sell that one. I’ll find another like that one day. Or find a gun smith who can truly make one.
I haven't done anymore work on the gun barrel. I may work more on it in the future sometime, but I don't have a schedule for it. It would be fun to at least finish the barrel. I didn't have intent to make an entire musket (I just wanted to see if I could do the forge welding), but since there has been so much interest in it, I may. Thanks for YOUR interest.
David Hammer Yes, please do if you can.. it was amazing to watch the process. I don't know if anyone asked, but what is the powder you sprinkled on the weld before putting it back into the forge?
Poppa Bear I use "20 Mule Team Borax" as a flux. It's probably the most commonly used flux by blacksmiths. It can be bought in any grocery store. It liquifies scale on the iron, so it isn't a problem during the welding process. Borax can be found in any grocery store on the shelf near the clothes washing soaps.
David Hammer I found your video as a link while I was researching Steyr Mannlicher's cold hammer forging process on youtube... I found their process to be incredible, but, oddly enough, I found your actual heated hammer forging and creating a barrel from a wagon wheel to be simply amazing.. I was riveted to the entire video, the process and watching you work.. David, I would personally love to see you continue to make a complete gun. I was simply fascinated watching you hammer out a hollow barrel from scratch. I'm going to subscribe to your channel, simply because I found what you were doing to be amazing. I hope you finish this gun up, as this is something I want to do. I have built multiple guns, but not from raw materials like this. I've build AKs and ARs and a bunch of modern firearms.. but not the barrel, not the trunnions, etc.. I simply used existing parts, or, as is the case with the AK, I built one from an old shovel and I built the rest from a parts kit receiver. I had to heat treat and case harden everything and have a kiln, but was very easy. Thank you for the info on the borax. I don't know what the borax does, but I've got case after case of it for curing Salmon eggs to make bait for fishing. Love this video.. I want to see an octagon barrel like you'd discussed being formed from scratch.
Wonderful Exhibition! The powder you spooned onto the hot iron, was that flux? What is the reason for spooning on the substance? Thank you for allowing us to see your hard work!
Thank you for showing this. I understand the process but doubt i'd have the knowledge of metallurgy to make one that would not blow up in my face if I tried to do something like this myself. I too got the chance to talk to the guys at Colonial Williamsburg as they were making parts for customers who order them. Amazing guys.
OK so I am no fan with insane love affair Americans have with guns... But i have to say this is some awsome blacksmithing and its nice this knowledge is being preserved. very fascinating to watch...
Thanks.... Believe me, I have no great fascination with guns either. I'm not sure I could even take this project to full completion legally without some government paperwork. Forge welding this barrel was solely a blacksmithing exersize to see if I could do it. I love blacksmithing and agree the processes need to be preserved and shared.
Pity it would be nice to see it completed.. maybe you could fill the barrel with lead or something... The fiddly flintlock mechanism would be interesting to see done..
David Hammer if you are in the US a new made muzzle loading pistol is classed as a antique no paper work needed if you are in Canada on the other hand you need to have a RPAL license
ZerqTM here in Canada it would still be a gun it needs to have a steel plug welded or no flash hole drilled. owning just the barrel is legal just about anywhere in the world as far as I know
john papple agreed. the hundreds of tricks and tips tp do the job the most efficient way may be temporarily lost, but not the most basic technique called ' heat, hit, repeat' Once humans know something can be done, they will figure out how.
I aways thought about how the first forgers did stuff like this, especially in and around Kentucky and Tennessee in the 1700 and 1800s. Your video was great at filling in some blanks for me... and showing how basic understanding of metal working and confidence in your skills can get a lot done
+max webster .... Iron was produced in crude furnaces for centuries prior to the introduction of methods to produce mild steel. If that iron had less than a nominal 1.5 to 2 percent carbon, it was considered wrought iron. Iron with high levels of carbon was called "cast iron" and was used to cast many things (it could not successfully be forged because it was too brittle). Iron with the lower levels of carbon (before mild steel) was called wrought iron (sometimes "pure iron" if the carbon level was very low) and was used to forge most metal objects. When methods were introduced to produce high quantities of mild steel (during the 19th century), it became cheaper and stronger than wrought iron. The use and thus production of wrought iron dwindled, with commercial production ending during the 1970's. There may be some small production to support repair or reproductions of early ironwork, but there generally is no new wrought iron available for sale to the general public. Real wrought iron is also frequently recycled from old buildings, bridges, and equipment that are being taken out of service. Most of this recycled iron is used to repair or reproduce early iron pieces. There are also folks that build small furnaces and produce iron in the same manner of early days for demonstration purposes. The use of mild steel has virtually replaced the use of wrought iron because it is cheaper and stronger. It is not called, nor referred to as, wrought iron by the steel industry. Occasionally (and incorrectly) marketing campaigns selling forged or fabricated products will call products made from mild steel wrought iron.
Without a 36 line response, while wrought iron has been in use for the last 1000 years, the Eiffel tower was built with puddled steel. My point was and is that the word "wrought" denotes "worked" and the material the Eiffel tower was built from is not "wrought iron" in it's purest definition even though it was "worked."
so how is a seal made between the 2 ends of the bit once they meet? is it welded shut or is hammering them together when they're red hot enough to fuse it together?
l'm not a Metallurgist, but it is my understanding that fusion occurs at the molecular level using the techniques demonstrated. Electric welding was not invented until the late 1800s... centuries after the first gun barrels were made using forge welding. I learned how to forge weld the gun barrel by watching a master gunsmith from Colonial Williamsburg (Virginia, USA) demonstrate the techniques I used in this video. His day-job is to replicate how gunsmiths forged guns during American Colonial days in the 18th century.
You can see at about 5:10 he shows close ups where he's checking how well the seam is bonded. No arc/torch welder needed for that! And actually is much stronger than if it had been arc welded!
David I love your video. I am glad you commented on identifying types of wrought iron. I have been using lots of recycled old wagon parts and I notice the quality varies greatly.Wrought iron is so much fun to forge. its like forging clay. I would make some videos but I don't think I could stand so many stupid comments. Wouldn't it be nice if folks tried to read a little before they blurt out such ignorant remarks.
David Lange Thanks... I love working with wrought iron also. The great thing is that if you etch it, you will see the grain in it. I've made lots of different things (leaves, wine bottle holders, candlestick holders, key fobs, various twists, etc). When making arty things, the rougher the texture, the better. As far as comments from viewers.... Most I get are great. And I don't mind getting constructive criticism. As far as poor or silly comments, I just keep in mind that opinions are like behinds...everyone has one... and they have the ability to type before they think on social media. Unless the comments are in extremely poor taste, I just let them go. The really bad ones I delete and or report as spam. I seldom reply to antagonizers, it's like feeding trolls. Make your videos... We all learn from watching others. If you don't want comments, just disable them.
I am absolutely lost in admiration. Why on earth don't they teach us how to do cool things like this in high school instead of spending time debating whether or not boys get participation trophies if they choose to play softball with the girls in a skirt
Some schools do have shop and metal programs. Most don't. I agree high schools should have these programs. I believe it could spark interest in MANY trades (and hobbies).
Very interesting back in the 1950`s my brother and I were just 11 and 14 years old and were hired to tear down a old building. As it turned out it was a old black smith shop. We found a book on blacksmiths printed back in the 1800`s on procedures of different methods of projects. It was German origin also found in one of the walls some German bonds but they were worthless but the book was very, very interesting. Enjoyed your video.
As of this date, I haven't given any more time to the gun barrel. Although I have occasionally mentioned I may continue to go forward with it, I haven't. My original intent was just to see if I could forge weld the barrel. It takes Colonial Williamsburg blacksmiths months and months of dedicated work with multiple people to complete a firearm, and they already have all the equipment and tools I would have to make. If I were a gun enthusiast, I would surely have worked on it more, but alas, I'm not.... and I moved on to other projects. I may work on it in the future, but have no definite plans or schedule for it. Thanks for asking....
That is cool I am just starting out experimenting in the art of blacksmith. I have been welding all my life but forging is great. I would love to see you finish and fire a bullet from the barrel!
+Anthony Ogg ... It's a great hobby. I have intent to continue work on the barrel, but there are other projects ahead in the queue... Good luck with your efforts to learn to be a blacksmith.
+whyturtleracer.... Although this video is the only one concerning firearms, I have numerous other blacksmithing videos on UA-cam. If you click on my name, then on "videos", you will get a list of all my videos. I do intend to continue work on the barrel and potentially the rest of a musket, but there are other projects ahead in the queue.
I certainly find this skill very fascinating. The warping of the long flat bar along its side into a circle to make the cylindrical form of long gun barrel is understandable but here is the interesting part. When the edges of the flat bar are required to fuse together, well the hammering on the red hot edges sees to the merging of the surface dendrites but what is interesting is that the central rod which he uses to ensure the size of the central hole along the barrel, well that does not seem to fuse with the inner side barrel even though it becomes red hot. I presume that the vectored impulses when he hammers, the circumferential forces are greater than the radial force and so the edges fuse but not the rod inside the hole. Also the flux that he is dropping on the edge seems to be breaking down the oxide which forms on the edge surface the red hot material hence the virgin material is fused while the oxide formed on the inner rod is still existing and hence no fusing occurs. That nudge with the hammer on the central rod seems to clear any adhesion high points that may have occurred but it seems that tightness is due to friction and the expansion of the rod and the contraction of the barrel on the rod. Here is a good use for oxide formation on some hot metals.
When I bring the iron out of the forge, it's hot enough to forge weld. When I push the mandrel into the hole, the mandrel is not hot enough (nor does it get hot enough, even though it will get red hot sometimes) to be forge welded. The mandrel's purpose is to prevent the forge welding efforts from collapsing the hole in the barrel. You are correct in that the reason the mandrel needs to be forced out sometimes is the barrel is grasping it with friction.
Thanks... Interest, persistence and hand-eye coordination are skills that help someone that wants to learn blacksmithing. Since you are a boilermaker, you already work with metal so you have a leg up on many folks that have interest. Having the ability to scrounge materials is high up on the list also. If you are interested, I recommend finding a local guild and attend their meetings (there are usually demonstrations). There is a national blacksmith organization (in America) called ABANA. Look on their website for "Affiliates". This is a list of registered guilds (there are many guilds that are not registered also). Most blacksmiths (hobby and professional) I know are eager to help someone starting to learn. Find out where classes are taught and take advantage of them. Many guilds have training programs... especially for beginners. If you "Google" for blacksmith schools, you will learn where there are traditional arts schools that teach blacksmithing also. There are many books out there that help also, with suggested projects to develop skills. The one I recommend most is Randy McDaniel's "A Blacksmith Primer". Public libraries should have it, but if they don't, you can find it on Amazon. If you join a guild, they will almost always have a library that books can be borrowed from. Good luck.
Interesting video David Hammer thanks. As a Brit (I shoot a Parker Hale .451 Volunteer) and we are not allowed to do these things here but I have always marveled at the how of gun making historically, its great to see and hear how its done, I thank you sir!
Ping Pong There laws here concerning making guns also. I believe to finish making an entire gun, I have to apply for a federal (and ??) permit of some kind. This coming weekend a Colonial Williamsburg gunsmith will be demonstrating at a conference I'm going to. I plan on talking to him about the legal requirements of going forward with my project.
David Hammer You can build any type of gun you like as long as you are legally allowed to by a gun of the same type. As far as BATFE is concerned blackpowder guns aren't considered a firearm.
Of course, there are details, and anyone considering such an undertaking would be well advised to research the laws before fabricating a single part. I realize my post was unsolicited and stated very 'matter of factly'. My apologies if I overstepped. Nice video by the way.
Ronald Colman I'm going to talk to one of the Colonial Williamsburg gunsmiths this coming Saturday. He makes these types of weapons. He should know what the legal issues are. I had done some research before and found a discussion about having to apply for a permit to make a weapon. What I don't know is whether or not it applies to this type of weapon. You may well have been right, but I will still clarify with the authorities. Thanks for your interest and kind words about my project.
it's a beautiful thing to see skilled hands craft something so well. the barrel may be rough hammered insofar as it's not completed at this point, but it sure looks good.
I have paid attention to the video, and I have read nearly all comments and replies. My question would be where/how did the colonial blacksmiths get the long iron plates to get through forge welding the long barrels for the rifles. This video has made a couple of concepts clear and easy to understand, and I could with no effort see how these kind of things were done in the past, but still it seems difficult to me to figure out how the iron was obtained in large quantities and sizes for the blacksmith to get these things done. Being the son of a blacksmith myself who used your technique with anvil and hammers to shape iron into fences and other artifacts I am curious to learn how did our ancestors get the iron pieces necesary to make huge things in the past meaning 1800's or earlier. I admire your work and if you could tell me if there is any book that details the answers to my doubts I'd be most thankful. Thanks for your patience and teaching/explaining skills. From Buenos Aires, Argentina, thank you.
This isnt how most colonial blacksmiths would make barrels for rifles or longer muskets. This is much more of a "let's build this with primitive tools" video. While it was likely done a few times throughout history, this isnt a match for how colonial rifles/muskets would be made.
Although there would have been some small scale smelting from bog iron and iron ore, most of the iron and steel in the early colonial days would have come from the old world. Europe had a complex trade network, which made materials relatively cheap, and the development of industrial blast furnaces and later coke making meant that metals could be smelted on a large scale. Later on when the steel industry had properly developed on the east coast of the US, they would have provided the majority of the metal to the frontier. Either way, far away from civilisation steel and iron would have been extremely expensive and only used in essential components; everything else being made from mainly wood.
That was just perfect I myself use to for many years was a Horseshoer Race horses Stander bred the ones with sulky's so i enjoyed your demonstration very much. Very different from what I use to do. but much fun to see Yes a lot of pounding Thanks
beautiful iron...I have a garden full of wrought iron ...no wagon wheels unfortunately but I have a few threaded tie bolts with a hook (for concreting them in) on the end and those are always the really good stuff
My grandfather had a blacksmith shop back in the 1920's, 30's, and 40's. It was on the family farm. I've been told he could make just about anything and he had a reputation of being the best blacksmith around. He died when I was a baby so I don't remember him but I remember his shop and the old forge. I still have his anvil and a few hammers. I wish I had the time to pick up the craft. Thank you for posting.
+laserbeam 002.... You can be proud...
Did you become a great blacksmith?
@@ethanw041 No, I never learned those skills.
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its a god damn shame the algorithm never suggests you stuff like this on its own. Great to see history in action. Thanks for documenting it!
Always interesting to see how they did this stuff without all the infrastructure and modern machines, the answer always seems to be a hell of a lot of patience and hard work.
@MichaelKingsfordGray sheesh he was just curious about how they made suck thick gun barrels back then when drills havent existed yet
@@MythSpeed drills have existed for thousands of years, everything from primitive bow drills and pump drills, to treadle lathes and presses, and so on. It was just a slower process, and drill bits needed replacing more often.
Rifles were extremely time consuming to create, where as smooth bore muskets were quicker to mass produce.
@@Beuwen_The_Dragon interesting but those old machines can bore thick steel into a gun barrel? esp in the 15th to 17th century
@@MythSpeed Metalworkers have been hardening steel for a very long time and hardened steel drill bits, while not as good as something like tungsten carbide, can certainly be used to bore into softer metals. I'm guessing that barrel is annealed before being reamed and rifled, then hardened once all shaping is complete. Starting with a rough tube, as shown in the video, means that far less metal has to be removed and bits don't wear out so quickly. I honestly don't know if this is how it was done, but it seems plausible.
These wrought iron barrels could not be hardened, as the carbon content was too low. They didn'need to be hard, just tough.
This is why the gunsmith was always a distinct skill set from the blacksmith. Just the same as your farrier and your toolsmith.
Hot dang do I love watching a good craftsman work...
That is an extremely long process for people that are not familiar with forging. You made that look simple and I am impressed and amazed. Great video.
I really enjoyed that, I have been restoring busted up old flintlocks for years, seeing a barrel being made is wonderful!
That's an incredible amount of skill shown in this video. The world needs more craftsmen like yourself, sir.
Nothing makes you appreciate the convenience (and energy consumption) of the modern age like watching a blacksmith try to make something that we take for granted every day. Great video. Crazy amount of work!
That's true, hopefully for every point you made.
Imagine making these for an entire army back in the day? Lots of labor.
rixille Thats the beauty of blacksmithing. Those guys probably had a ton of jigs and molds that made their lives easier. after making a couple hundred im sure they figured out a way to do them quickly and precisely en masse
+jason m I bet they could get them done in just a couple of heats, tbh. Probably bend the entire thing around a mandrel in just one, weld it in another or two. This is more the frontier blacksmith being able to recycle goods.
+farmerboy916 .... I'd take that bet...
David Hammer I didn't specify, but I meant more in an arms manufactory of the time with a few people all working on it at once. That should clarify a bit
+jason m Casting is weaker. You might do that for some of the parts, but not the barrel.
Ingenuity, skill, and infinite patence. What a wonderful demonstration of these invaluable qualities. Great video. Thanks.
Thank you!
Thanks for that vid Dave - all that hard work just to get the barrel in a basic tube! Makes one appreciate the old gunsmiths
I've been told (by a Colonial Williamsburg smith) that, in a weapons production shop, each smith would make one part of a gun... So they would be extremely fast and good at making that single part. It would have been interesting to see.
that has by far the best video I have seen!! you sir are truly a blacksmith. thank you for showing me how a barrel is made with technology
Thanks...
WOW! As a machinist, I find this fascinating! Making a barrel from round stock would be hard enough, but this way just seems impossible. I'm amazed at how things were done "back when". I wish you could show the whole process, especially the rifling. Great video!
As he said it isn't going to be a rifled barrel.
As he said it isn't going to be a rifled barrel.
sideswipe147 Where did he say that? He mentions both in the video and in the text that the next several steps would include rifling it...
***** my mistake... I rewatched the video a second and third time and could not find him saying it. I think it might have been another of his videos that pointed to this one in which he said that. However I could just as easily be mistaken. I may have been tired when watching this originally.
@MichaelKingsfordGray Musket would be smooth bore. Rifle would be, well, rifled. Both are guns.
that anvil is the greatest piece of gear that I have ever seen.
you have an amazing amount of patients to make this
I'm also impressed at how much endurance you must have to swing that hammer for who really knows how long
well done sir
Thank you....
Don Neale ships right bicep is 36" around his left bicep is standard issue.
I'm in awe, watching something that I simply cannot comprehend. If I hadn't seen it, I wouldn't believe it was even possible to create a gun barrel from a "strip" of metal. Great video and extremely educational. Many thanks.
Thank you...
Nicely done, very informative seeing how much flux you had to use to get a good weld. Also good work on the edit, Enough to see whats going on but not having to watch every blow. It always amazes me what can be achieved with simple tools and patience.
Thank you for this content. It's people like you that make knowledge pass between generations. Again thank you for this knowledge. I hope you come out with more knowledge
Appropriate name! Beautiful work! You're a master in my eyes. More videos please!
+Anthony Stevens j.... Thanks... I expect to be putting up more videos later.
I always wondered how hundreds of years ago blacksmiths could make a barrel without modern machines. Thank you for the video, now it makes sense how it was done.
good to know. the older i get, the more interesting I find this sort of thing. hand crafting of any sort is more and more of a rarity... thanks for sharing your craft.
Interest in blacksmithing is actually growing. There is a national organization called ABANA with over 4000 members (and growing). The TV programs that have started recently (although they a bit dramatic and unrealistic), have added to the interest. I don't have a number, but there are numerous blacksmiths that make their living doing this type of work.
David Hammer awesome. I've seen some on tv about blade smiths. definitely kinda dramatic; but interesting none the less... thanks again.
I saw a fella by the name of Guster do this years ago. I find people who can do this darn fascinating. Guster was an artist. He had some finished rifles I wish like heck I had picked one up lol. Really enjoyed this video.
This really helped me understand and appreciate the work behind how a gun barrel is made. Thanks for keeping it simple and not getting too technical for us laypeople.
I know a minute amount of blacksmithing, but what I do know, is it's impressive no matter what.
that is by far the largest anvil I have ever seen !
That's what she said
Richard Castillo Tut! Tut! Richard
***** That anvil sure is a beauty. Where can I buy 3 or 4?
Nonja Buisniss I bought mine from Josh Greenwood (Petersburg, VA, USA). His website is anvils4sale.com/more_anvils.php
He imports them from Germany. There are others that import and sell these also (check eBay). There is also a dealer in the Midwest that sells new Refflinghaus anvils.
David Hammer Very nice. Thanks a lot.
wow, now that's craftsmanship, my hats off to you man .
Thanks.
sweet! I hope you film and post the rest of the project.. thank you for sharing
Great job! Very Professional work! Thank you for taking the time to make this video and showing us how a barrel is made! Have a Blessed day and GOD bless!
SERIOUSLY?
You gonna leave us hanging like that?
Ya gotta do more videos up to the finished product.
archangel20031 ha ha ha ha ha
Just picked this up by watching a guy huh? Well you’re doing a remarkable job. You’re now one of the top blacksmiths I’ll be watching.
Now I have a higher respect for the gunsmiths who had to do that
I guess I never gave this period of gunsmithing any thought because the idea of having a "seam" in my gun barrel scares the bejesus out of me! I guess I always though they were cast back then - like a canon. Learn something new every day - thanks!
I'm not rifle (or musket) barrels were ever cast. Cannons and mortars were cast.
Hi David, good video. what were the qualities of the wrought iron that you liked so much? What made it exceptionally good? Is there a test you can do to test that it is wrought?
Wrought iron is generally spoken of (graded) as poor, medium or highly refined. Although a piece of wrought iron, after being processed into a bar, may have a smooth outer surface, it actually has an internal fibrous structure, much like a tree branch. If you have ever seen a piece of wrought iron that has severely rusted, or has been successfully etched with acid, you will see evidence of these fibers.
The finer (thinner) the fibers, the more highly refined the wrought iron is. The more highly refined it is, the better it is. The more highly refined wrought iron is, the easier it is to forge. Extremely rough fibers (poorly refined iron) may appear as wide as an eight of an inch. Within extremely high refined wrought iron, it may be difficult to see the fibrous nature of the iron at all.
Modern steel does not have that fibrous appearance, it has a crystalline appearance.
A way to determine if a piece of metal is wrought iron is to literally "break" it.... as if it were a twig, and look for the fibers. Then a visual inspection of the thickness of the fibers is used to "grade" the wrought iron. In reality, there would be many diameters of fibers within each grade (poor, medium and highly refined), so in reality, there are as many grades as there would be diameters of the fibers. Within a piece of unforged bar stock, those fibers would run lengthways within the bar (again, like the grain within a tree branch).
When I tested the wagon wheel tire I used to forge the gun barrel, I could hardly see the fibers.
I suppose the next question might be "How do I break a piece of iron.... wouldn't it just bend?
This is how I do it.... If I am testing a bar (say a half inch square solid), I put a piece of the bar into a vice, with about an inch or so sticking up or out the side. Then I cut it a little more than halfway through the bar with a hacksaw (with the cut about 1/4 to 3/8ths of an inch from the vise jaws). The cut needs to be across the fibers. You can generally assume the fibers run lengthways on the bar (this will invariably be true if the bar has not been forged). Then take a heavy hammer and "whack" the bar, hitting it on the side that you just cut. If you did this with a piece of wood, it would break or "split" at the cut (and you would see wood fibers). Essentially, if you use enough force, and it is wrought iron, it will also split and you can see the fibers. I try to hit the bar just hard enough to split it, but not break it. As previously stated, the smaller the fibers, the more highly refined the wrought iron is. Some fibers may actually "tear" and you can see the ends of them (as well as the sides of those that don't tear). On highly refined wrought iron, those fibers may only be 1/100 of an inch wide.
If you have trouble breaking the metal, cut it a little further. If it's steel (rather than wrought iron), it will be harder to break. If it's steel, it will snap in two at the cut and will not split like a tree branch. It will have a crystalline appearance on each end instead of the fibers.
If you have a piece of thick barstock, just cut a short (1/4 inch) piece off the end and put that in a vise and break it like you were trying to bend a coin. It will snap in two and you should see the fibers (assuming it is wrought iron).
If you don't want to destroy a piece of what you have, clean the scale off it (sanding or ?), then etch it with acid. You won't see the grain as pronounced, but you should see grain. The more poorly refined it is, the easier it is to see the grain. If it is extremely highly refined, you may have trouble seeing the grain and will have to do the break test. If you polish the metal, a light acid like lemon juice may show the grain (it takes a while). A stronger acid would be hydrochloric acid (muratic acid). If you use stronger acids, be sure you take proper safety precautions and proper disposal techniques (read the MSDS).
I replied with a very long detailed answer to this question.. I'm not sure where it went.
David Hammer I got it and appreciate it very much. Very informative and something I will be looking for as I educate myself.
I have to say I'm very glad i was able to view your video . The way you explained each process was excellent. thank you for taking the time to put this out here. Till the next one, I'll be watching out for it
What are the chances that a guy whose last name is "Hammer" would be a blacksmith? I recently bought an anvil from a woman whose last name was "Smith." It's the little things in life that I find entertaining.
Life is full of irony... :-)
David Hammer That was priceless lol
And a black guy called "Smith"? Rsrsrs
lol No doubt. I had friend & her father was a heart surgeon. Last name of Payne
First name... Max? Rsrs
Awesome job. Very interesting how everything was made by hand back in the day, so to speak. Thank you for your time and effort.
soon there won't be anyone left with these kinds of skills... sad.
There are numerous traditional arts schools that teach blacksmithing. There are even a couple (or more) universities that have metal arts programs. There is a national blacksmith's organization called ABANA (goggle it) that is dedicated to perpetuating the skills...
There seems to be quite a resurgence of smithing, thankfully.
@@patrickmclaughlin61 I think UA-cam is pushing that.
@@djhammerd I was also giong to comment on the anvil, they are naval anvils .. but more interesting is "did you know" the Bick and heel are only about 300 years old before this they were hardy set pieces but an old flat "I" anvil at the shop was about 1600's didn't have a Hardy hole.....
@@andrewyork3869 Seeing it demonstrated by so many people on here and moreso seeing just how accessible getting started is gave me the final impetus to try my hand at it as it's been something I've always wanted to do. I started with a propane torch, claw hammer and anvil made out of a sledgehammer head and have a proper anvil and ribbon burner setup now. The process has been so satisfying.
Watching you master crafts persons, especially blacksmiths and carpenters, makes me feel that sitting at a server terminal all day is not what it's all about. Time for a new career me thinks. Amazing video!
TheMonohub Making something you can hold in your hands is a great thing. My long time career was in IT also, but I also had a woodworking hobby. I also learned how to weld so I could make and fix metal things. I didn't really start forging till I retired and could focus on it. It would be a hard way to make a living, but it's a great hobby (as is wood working).
FINALLY I found what I was looking for. I searched for ‘gunsmith’ and all I got were these pansies doing some simple modifications to existing guns with machinery.
Had to search for ‘gun forged by hand’ to find this...
i always wondered how blacksmiths would make pipes back in the day, thanks for making this video
You're welcome....
idk why people make their names the creators name... especially for a youtuber this small...
idk why people say ignorant things...ohh wait.. nvm they are just ignorant....
idk why you got offended by my comment but k...
you seem like the guy to ask: is there a commonly used progression of blacksmithing projects that one usually goes through? for example, making a knife seems like it would be way more simple than this. I would think it could be a first project, or one of the first projects. Do you ever try to make your own steel/iron? I'm assuming you chose that wagon wheel tire purposefully for it's composition. I'm fascinated by all of this. Thanks for any advice you have.
If you have not done any forging, I would recommend joining a local guild and taking beginner and intermediate classes. Some guilds have forging stations available at their meetings and do demonstrations. They may also teach formal classes. If your guild doesn't teach (even if they do), there are MANY formal schools that teach blacksmithing. Some are dedicated to smithing, others are Traditional Arts schools with blacksmithing as one of the categories of classes. The best school is probably the J.C. Campbell Traditional Arts School in North Carolina.
First projects usually include making hooks, leaves, twists and simple tools (such as punches and chisels). There is no formal progression that I know of. It just depends upon your interests after you have learned the basic skills. I would not consider a knife a beginner's project, but it depends on what you are satisfied with. Making a very nice knife may require you to have equipment a beginner generally does not have, such as a belt grinder and polisher. If you look online, using search engines and finding videos on UA-cam, you should get an idea how smiths make knives. It's not difficult, but it does take skill and lots of practice.
Simple forge welding is probably considered an intermediate skill. Forge welding a gun barrel might be considered advanced.
I used wagon wheel tire iron to make the barrel because they are a source of wrought iron in the needed cross section. Wrought iron is not commercially manufactured anymore, so the only iron that is available is that from old pieces that can be re-used.
Best of luck to you.
thank you so much!
Flutter Shy I don't have any information about guilds or schools in Canada. I recommend you use Google or Bing and specify "Ontario Blacksmith" as the search argument. You will find an Ontario blacksmith organization. Their website should have contact information for you. They should be able to tell you where you can get training.
Pinkamena RainbowDerpyShy I completed a beginner course from Wareham Forge with Darryl Markewitz in Ontario(google with easily get you there and the classes are somewhere on his website). He was great and relatively well priced. I'm very glad I went to him. There are several others, one of which is Thak Ironworks (again google will find him easy). He's also in Ontario and while I've never met him or been to his shop, I've heard nothing but great things. He's a little pricier, but you'll see his work, he's probably worth it. Lastly, there are more classes, but to help get you started with resources for Ontario, check out Ontarioblacksmiths.ca. Ontario Artists Blacksmith Association. These should help get you in the right direction. Goodluck
Look up ABANA
David, Thank you so much showing a small but important part of the forging process.
That's one bad ass ANVIL you've got there!
I like it also.....
The anvil got my attention as well ! Jee Wizz! how much was that thing!
A bit more than my morning coffee....
I'll bet!
UA-cam is awesome, I was just thinking 2 days ago about how people managed to drill long holes in barrels before everything was made by robots, and here the answer. Thanks a lot!
in Turkey,black sea region old people craft pistol from good quality sledge hammers.
I'd like to see a video of those folks...
yes same, id love to see someone repurpose a hammer in to a pistol, go there Ivan and make that video :)
David Hammer
me too
I like the swage block solution you built to keep her steady! Great video on the process!
Thank You
Great video! I have read about how this was done. Now I've seen it done.
A lot of work on each centimeter. Hammer welting is something special. It is amazing to see something an old times smith has made. You can see the experience in it.
So making a gun in the 18th century was a lot of work...
Yup.... But fun for us to try today (since our lives don't depend upon it).
2lbsTrigrPull- 60-100 hours to make a Pennsylvania/Kentucky Longrifle from start to finish.
pantslizard when I was at Colonial Williamsburg, the gunsmith there said that it took between 200-400 hours for the typical long rifle
David Hammer it might in near future after the forced gun buy back comming
high tech stuff , if it was easy , anybody could/would do it
That was an exceptionally good piece of iron. That tire band would make an exceptional long barrel. Having a barrel like that with nice cut riflings would be excellent when broken in. I was able to fire a rifle made with a truly exceptional iron barrel once. It was a dream to load and clean and was so accurate. I offered an exceptional amount of money for it but the owner didn’t want to sell that one. I’ll find another like that one day. Or find a gun smith who can truly make one.
Dave did you finished the barrel, and if so, can you upload it?
I haven't done anymore work on the gun barrel. I may work more on it in the future sometime, but I don't have a schedule for it. It would be fun to at least finish the barrel. I didn't have intent to make an entire musket (I just wanted to see if I could do the forge welding), but since there has been so much interest in it, I may.
Thanks for YOUR interest.
David Hammer Yes, please do if you can.. it was amazing to watch the process. I don't know if anyone asked, but what is the powder you sprinkled on the weld before putting it back into the forge?
Poppa Bear I use "20 Mule Team Borax" as a flux. It's probably the most commonly used flux by blacksmiths. It can be bought in any grocery store. It liquifies scale on the iron, so it isn't a problem during the welding process. Borax can be found in any grocery store on the shelf near the clothes washing soaps.
David Hammer I found your video as a link while I was researching Steyr Mannlicher's cold hammer forging process on youtube... I found their process to be incredible, but, oddly enough, I found your actual heated hammer forging and creating a barrel from a wagon wheel to be simply amazing.. I was riveted to the entire video, the process and watching you work.. David, I would personally love to see you continue to make a complete gun. I was simply fascinated watching you hammer out a hollow barrel from scratch. I'm going to subscribe to your channel, simply because I found what you were doing to be amazing. I hope you finish this gun up, as this is something I want to do. I have built multiple guns, but not from raw materials like this. I've build AKs and ARs and a bunch of modern firearms.. but not the barrel, not the trunnions, etc.. I simply used existing parts, or, as is the case with the AK, I built one from an old shovel and I built the rest from a parts kit receiver. I had to heat treat and case harden everything and have a kiln, but was very easy. Thank you for the info on the borax. I don't know what the borax does, but I've got case after case of it for curing Salmon eggs to make bait for fishing. Love this video.. I want to see an octagon barrel like you'd discussed being formed from scratch.
David Hammer I, too, will subscribe in hopes of seeing the continuation.
Wonderful Exhibition! The powder you spooned onto the hot iron, was that flux? What is the
reason for spooning on the substance? Thank you for allowing us to see your hard work!
BEST NAME EVER! That's like a gynecologist having the name Dr Mudflaps. Or Steve Vulva PHD.
Incredible skill and craft at work here!
Nice anvil!
Thank you for showing this. I understand the process but doubt i'd have the knowledge of metallurgy to make one that would not blow up in my face if I tried to do something like this myself. I too got the chance to talk to the guys at Colonial Williamsburg as they were making parts for customers who order them. Amazing guys.
Visiting Colonial Williamsburg is always a treat. Both the gun and blacksmith shops are my favorite.
what stuff you but in?
+hönö olett If you are asking what the white powder I'm using is... it's 20 Mule Team Borax. I use it as a flux.
thanks
+David Hammer Did you make the bullets for Scaramanga?
+areolaman ... I haven't made any bullets....
David Hammer do you remember the Bond film Man with the Golden Gun
you should take a trip to Nauvoo, Illinois and see John Browning's original blacksmith shop and how he forged rifled barrels. It is amazing.
Impressive. Thanks for sharing.
This was very interesting. I myself and I am sure others would like to see you do more videos as you continue the process. Thanks
What is the white powder stuff that he is putting?
I use "20 Mule Team Borax" for flux.
For what? What is the purpose? I am new at blacksmithing, sorry.
I watched a Colonial Williamsburg gunsmith forge weld a rifle barrel. I wanted to see if I could do the same (only I just did a pistol barrel).
Wow, thanks guys.
It is used to control oxidation (scale) that occurs on the steel in the forge. Scale is an enemy against successful forge welds.
What I'd give for just a A QUARTER of your skill and ability! Beautiful to watch. I can all but feel the heat from here. ;) Thank you.
OK so I am no fan with insane love affair Americans have with guns...
But i have to say this is some awsome blacksmithing and its nice this knowledge is being preserved.
very fascinating to watch...
Thanks.... Believe me, I have no great fascination with guns either. I'm not sure I could even take this project to full completion legally without some government paperwork. Forge welding this barrel was solely a blacksmithing exersize to see if I could do it. I love blacksmithing and agree the processes need to be preserved and shared.
Pity it would be nice to see it completed..
maybe you could fill the barrel with lead or something...
The fiddly flintlock mechanism would be interesting to see done..
David Hammer if you are in the US a new made muzzle loading pistol is classed as a antique no paper work needed if you are in Canada on the other hand you need to have a RPAL license
camerl2009
What if the barrel is authentically made but plugged with liquid lead?
That quite commonly used for display pieces if i recall correctly..
ZerqTM here in Canada it would still be a gun it needs to have a steel plug welded or no flash hole drilled. owning just the barrel is legal just about anywhere in the world as far as I know
beautiful to watch you work.
Thanks....
that saddle definitely was handy. the sliding around kept making me cringe for some reason
my friend you impress me! Nice work!!!
Skills that have been nearly lost to the world.
+Myriaddsystems I doubt the idea of smashing something to change its shape will ever be lost. It's pretty basic.
john papple agreed. the hundreds of tricks and tips tp do the job the most efficient way may be temporarily lost, but not the most basic technique called ' heat, hit, repeat' Once humans know something can be done, they will figure out how.
I aways thought about how the first forgers did stuff like this, especially in and around Kentucky and Tennessee in the 1700 and 1800s. Your video was great at filling in some blanks for me... and showing how basic understanding of metal working and confidence in your skills can get a lot done
The Eiffel Tower was built with wrought iron. It will last as long as it is maintained. :-)
+Mike Cimerian all iron and steel is wrought
max webster I said iron not steel.
Anything not cast is wrought.
+max webster .... Iron was produced in crude furnaces for centuries prior to the introduction of methods to produce mild steel. If that iron had less than a nominal 1.5 to 2 percent carbon, it was considered wrought iron. Iron with high levels of carbon was called "cast iron" and was used to cast many things (it could not successfully be forged because it was too brittle). Iron with the lower levels of carbon (before mild steel) was called wrought iron (sometimes "pure iron" if the carbon level was very low) and was used to forge most metal objects.
When methods were introduced to produce high quantities of mild steel (during the 19th century), it became cheaper and stronger than wrought iron. The use and thus production of wrought iron dwindled, with commercial production ending during the 1970's. There may be some small production to support repair or reproductions of early ironwork, but there generally is no new wrought iron available for sale to the general public. Real wrought iron is also frequently recycled from old buildings, bridges, and equipment that are being taken out of service. Most of this recycled iron is used to repair or reproduce early iron pieces. There are also folks that build small furnaces and produce iron in the same manner of early days for demonstration purposes.
The use of mild steel has virtually replaced the use of wrought iron because it is cheaper and stronger. It is not called, nor referred to as, wrought iron by the steel industry. Occasionally (and incorrectly) marketing campaigns selling forged or fabricated products will call products made from mild steel wrought iron.
Without a 36 line response, while wrought iron has been in use for the last 1000 years, the Eiffel tower was built with puddled steel. My point was and is that the word "wrought" denotes "worked" and the material the Eiffel tower was built from is not "wrought iron" in it's purest definition even though it was "worked."
so how is a seal made between the 2 ends of the bit once they meet? is it welded shut or is hammering them together when they're red hot enough to fuse it together?
l'm not a Metallurgist, but it is my understanding that fusion occurs at the molecular level using the techniques demonstrated. Electric welding was not invented until the late 1800s... centuries after the first gun barrels were made using forge welding. I learned how to forge weld the gun barrel by watching a master gunsmith from Colonial Williamsburg (Virginia, USA) demonstrate the techniques I used in this video. His day-job is to replicate how gunsmiths forged guns during American Colonial days in the 18th century.
You can see at about 5:10 he shows close ups where he's checking how well the seam is bonded. No arc/torch welder needed for that! And actually is much stronger than if it had been arc welded!
imagine having to make a quota of these daily.
That would be a challenge...
The quota would be yearly.
David I love your video. I am glad you commented on identifying types of wrought iron. I have been using lots of recycled old wagon parts and I notice the quality varies greatly.Wrought iron is so much fun to forge. its like forging clay. I would make some videos but I don't think I could stand so many stupid comments. Wouldn't it be nice if folks tried to read a little before they blurt out such ignorant remarks.
David Lange Thanks... I love working with wrought iron also. The great thing is that if you etch it, you will see the grain in it. I've made lots of different things (leaves, wine bottle holders, candlestick holders, key fobs, various twists, etc). When making arty things, the rougher the texture, the better.
As far as comments from viewers.... Most I get are great. And I don't mind getting constructive criticism. As far as poor or silly comments, I just keep in mind that opinions are like behinds...everyone has one... and they have the ability to type before they think on social media. Unless the comments are in extremely poor taste, I just let them go. The really bad ones I delete and or report as spam. I seldom reply to antagonizers, it's like feeding trolls.
Make your videos... We all learn from watching others. If you don't want comments, just disable them.
Your name is Hammer 🇺🇸 😂 The the Iron-y ! 🌵
:-)
That is true craftmanship , right there ! Awesome to watch , Thank You
Thank you...
I am absolutely lost in admiration. Why on earth don't they teach us how to do cool things like this in high school instead of spending time debating whether or not boys get participation trophies if they choose to play softball with the girls in a skirt
Some schools do have shop and metal programs. Most don't. I agree high schools should have these programs. I believe it could spark interest in MANY trades (and hobbies).
If a kid draws a picture of a gun in a notebook he is in trouble. Making gun barrels would not be approved of, me thinks. 8= {}
Very interesting back in the 1950`s my brother and I were just 11 and 14 years old and were hired to tear down a old building. As it turned out it was a old black smith shop. We found a book on blacksmiths printed back in the 1800`s on procedures of different methods of projects. It was German origin also found in one of the walls some German bonds but they were worthless but the book was very, very interesting. Enjoyed your video.
Thanks... Your experience sounds like it was a great time... Actually, there are a fair amount of early publications online. I love reading them...
too much enthusiasm from the narrator for me ..
I'll try to cut down on my caffeine.
David Hammer what happened with the barrel did u finish it
As of this date, I haven't given any more time to the gun barrel. Although I have occasionally mentioned I may continue to go forward with it, I haven't. My original intent was just to see if I could forge weld the barrel. It takes Colonial Williamsburg blacksmiths months and months of dedicated work with multiple people to complete a firearm, and they already have all the equipment and tools I would have to make. If I were a gun enthusiast, I would surely have worked on it more, but alas, I'm not.... and I moved on to other projects. I may work on it in the future, but have no definite plans or schedule for it.
Thanks for asking....
Narrator?, turn the sound off.
Stephane Dufresne have a cry you muppet I bet you can’t change a tyre or do you have a hobby or modify or own car ,I bet not
That is cool I am just starting out experimenting in the art of blacksmith. I have been welding all my life but forging is great. I would love to see you finish and fire a bullet from the barrel!
+Anthony Ogg ... It's a great hobby. I have intent to continue work on the barrel, but there are other projects ahead in the queue... Good luck with your efforts to learn to be a blacksmith.
sometimes, the white man can amaze you.
A rare occurance for the positive, but it does happen! It is possible! This man is proof of that!
very nice video and running commentary on the process . I hope you get time to add more of these. Congratulations on this skill.
+whyturtleracer.... Although this video is the only one concerning firearms, I have numerous other blacksmithing videos on UA-cam. If you click on my name, then on "videos", you will get a list of all my videos.
I do intend to continue work on the barrel and potentially the rest of a musket, but there are other projects ahead in the queue.
Don't let Obama see this otherwise we won't see you for a very long time........
^.^
MeMad Max I think we need more like this man, and other nations do too, namely austrailia and England
Not to worry....
I certainly find this skill very fascinating. The warping of the long flat bar along its side into a circle to make the cylindrical form of long gun barrel is understandable but here is the interesting part. When the edges of the flat bar are required to fuse together, well the hammering on the red hot edges sees to the merging of the surface dendrites but what is interesting is that the central rod which he uses to ensure the size of the central hole along the barrel, well that does not seem to fuse with the inner side barrel even though it becomes red hot.
I presume that the vectored impulses when he hammers, the circumferential forces are greater than the radial force and so the edges fuse but not the rod inside the hole. Also the flux that he is dropping on the edge seems to be breaking down the oxide which forms on the edge surface the red hot material hence the virgin material is fused while the oxide formed on the inner rod is still existing and hence no fusing occurs. That nudge with the hammer on the central rod seems to clear any adhesion high points that may have occurred but it seems that tightness is due to friction and the expansion of the rod and the contraction of the barrel on the rod. Here is a good use for oxide formation on some hot metals.
When I bring the iron out of the forge, it's hot enough to forge weld. When I push the mandrel into the hole, the mandrel is not hot enough (nor does it get hot enough, even though it will get red hot sometimes) to be forge welded. The mandrel's purpose is to prevent the forge welding efforts from collapsing the hole in the barrel. You are correct in that the reason the mandrel needs to be forced out sometimes is the barrel is grasping it with friction.
geeeeez that's awesome I'm a Boilermaker, what skill to do some of the things I've seen done by blacksmiths incredible
Thanks... Interest, persistence and hand-eye coordination are skills that help someone that wants to learn blacksmithing. Since you are a boilermaker, you already work with metal so you have a leg up on many folks that have interest. Having the ability to scrounge materials is high up on the list also. If you are interested, I recommend finding a local guild and attend their meetings (there are usually demonstrations). There is a national blacksmith organization (in America) called ABANA. Look on their website for "Affiliates". This is a list of registered guilds (there are many guilds that are not registered also). Most blacksmiths (hobby and professional) I know are eager to help someone starting to learn. Find out where classes are taught and take advantage of them. Many guilds have training programs... especially for beginners. If you "Google" for blacksmith schools, you will learn where there are traditional arts schools that teach blacksmithing also. There are many books out there that help also, with suggested projects to develop skills. The one I recommend most is Randy McDaniel's "A Blacksmith Primer". Public libraries should have it, but if they don't, you can find it on Amazon. If you join a guild, they will almost always have a library that books can be borrowed from. Good luck.
Nice work!
Most negative comments are from people who don't understand what is craftmanship
looks like a lot of hard work... u must be loving this to keep at it.
nice video.
Interesting video David Hammer thanks. As a Brit (I shoot a Parker Hale .451 Volunteer) and we are not allowed to do these things here but I have always marveled at the how of gun making historically, its great to see and hear how its done, I thank you sir!
Ping Pong There laws here concerning making guns also. I believe to finish making an entire gun, I have to apply for a federal (and ??) permit of some kind. This coming weekend a Colonial Williamsburg gunsmith will be demonstrating at a conference I'm going to. I plan on talking to him about the legal requirements of going forward with my project.
David Hammer You can build any type of gun you like as long as you are legally allowed to by a gun of the same type. As far as BATFE is concerned blackpowder guns aren't considered a firearm.
Ronald Colman Thanks for that information.
Of course, there are details, and anyone considering such an undertaking would be well advised to research the laws before fabricating a single part. I realize my post was unsolicited and stated very 'matter of factly'. My apologies if I overstepped. Nice video by the way.
Ronald Colman I'm going to talk to one of the Colonial Williamsburg gunsmiths this coming Saturday. He makes these types of weapons. He should know what the legal issues are. I had done some research before and found a discussion about having to apply for a permit to make a weapon. What I don't know is whether or not it applies to this type of weapon. You may well have been right, but I will still clarify with the authorities.
Thanks for your interest and kind words about my project.
You are one patient man, well done
Years of practice to make a flat piece of wrought into a barrel! Amazing work
Forgive me, but I cant tear my eyes away from that beautiful anvil.
I kind of like it also....
This was so cool to watch! Nice work!!!
Thank you!
it's a beautiful thing to see skilled hands craft something so well. the barrel may be rough hammered insofar as it's not completed at this point, but it sure looks good.
Thank you.
wow, i was just wondering if people could actually forge a pipe, that perfect weld is insane, i cant even imagine all the possibilities of forging.
I have paid attention to the video, and I have read nearly all comments and replies.
My question would be where/how did the colonial blacksmiths get the long iron plates to get through forge welding the long barrels for the rifles.
This video has made a couple of concepts clear and easy to understand, and I could with no effort see how these kind of things were done in the past, but still it seems difficult to me to figure out how the iron was obtained in large quantities and sizes for the blacksmith to get these things done.
Being the son of a blacksmith myself who used your technique with anvil and hammers to shape iron into fences and other artifacts I am curious to learn how did our ancestors get the iron pieces necesary to make huge things in the past meaning 1800's or earlier.
I admire your work and if you could tell me if there is any book that details the answers to my doubts I'd be most thankful.
Thanks for your patience and teaching/explaining skills.
From Buenos Aires, Argentina, thank you.
This isnt how most colonial blacksmiths would make barrels for rifles or longer muskets.
This is much more of a "let's build this with primitive tools" video. While it was likely done a few times throughout history, this isnt a match for how colonial rifles/muskets would be made.
Although there would have been some small scale smelting from bog iron and iron ore, most of the iron and steel in the early colonial days would have come from the old world. Europe had a complex trade network, which made materials relatively cheap, and the development of industrial blast furnaces and later coke making meant that metals could be smelted on a large scale. Later on when the steel industry had properly developed on the east coast of the US, they would have provided the majority of the metal to the frontier. Either way, far away from civilisation steel and iron would have been extremely expensive and only used in essential components; everything else being made from mainly wood.
That was just perfect I myself use to for many years was a Horseshoer Race horses
Stander bred the ones with sulky's so i enjoyed your demonstration very much.
Very different from what I use to do. but much fun to see
Yes a lot of pounding Thanks
Wow that’s so cool to watch! I can’t wait till I can start learning how to forge! :)
Springfield had this down in the 1850's. Made some really good stuff.
beautiful iron...I have a garden full of wrought iron ...no wagon wheels unfortunately but I have a few threaded tie bolts with a hook (for concreting them in) on the end and those are always the really good stuff
that is very impressive. not many people can claim to have done this.
I realy enjoyed that you have a new sub. I can't wait to watch the progression from here 👍
I came across this by accident cool video it reminds me of when my dad showed me how to fix a broken yard rake by forge welding it