Fighting Iron: A Metals Handbook for Arms Collectors
By Art Gogan
ISBN 0-917218-86-8
Reviewed by Stan Zielinski
One of my interests has always been in how the rifles were made. Many years ago as a graduate student I had the chance to learn how to use a variety of metal working tools from a retired machinist who ran the college's metal working shop. Many hours when I should have been studying I was in the metal shop making various gun tools such as the barrel/action wrench and vise I still have (and use) today. Over the years I have collected a number of books on older machine tools, metals, particularly steel, and metalworking in general, particularly of the 1850 - 1950 era, but, while some of this literature had information relative to the manufacture of firearms, most were general texts. This book was written specifically for those who collect firearms, and should be of interest to anyone who collects firearms.
Below is the table of contents which should give a good idea of the subjects covered, but here are a few subjects discussed in the book. Can an x-ray detect if a weld was made? Answer, no if the weld was a good one. There is a section on reading obliterated markings, and also a discussion of such sales hype as Colt's "silver steel." The science of modern metallurgy is actually quite young and some of the claims made for the iron/steel used in 19th and early 20th century firearms were really quite absurd in light of today's knowledge. More importantly for collectors, certain uses of some types of metals are clear indicators that the firearm has been "restored." But while most collectors could spot a gunstock made out of the wrong kind of wood, probably very few could recognize the inappropriate use of steel where iron was originally used. This is the kind of reference book that every firearms collector should own and refer to frequently.
Chapter 1 Getting started
Chapter 2 Iron in Antiquity
Chapter 3 Iron Products of Interest to the Arms Collector
Chapter 4 The Steel Age and Steel Alloys
Chapter 5 The Non-ferrous Metals
Chapter 6 The Working and Forming of Metals
Chapter 7 The Heat Treatment of Metals
Chapter 8 Corrosion
Chapter 9 The Laboratory
Appendices A Glossary of Metallurgical Terms
B Colt's "Silver Steel" - an answer?
C The Irons and Steels circa 1900
D A Metals Miscellany
Endnotes & Bibliography
Index
Order from:
Andrew Mobray Publishers
PO Box 460
Lincoln RI 02865
Fax: 401 726-8061
Fighting Iron: A Metals Handbook for Arms Collectors
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